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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #379198
Research Project: Systematics of Parasitic and Herbivorous Wasps of Agricultural Importance

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: The great greenbriers gall mystery resolved? New species of Aprostocetus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) gall inducer and two new parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) associated with Smilax in southern Florida, USA

Author
item Gates, Michael
item ZHANG, YUANMENG MILES - University Of Central Florida
item Buffington, Matthew

Submitted to: Journal of Hymenoptera Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/2/2020
Publication Date: 12/29/2020
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/7235637
Citation: Gates, M.W., Zhang, Y., Buffington, M.L. 2020. The great greenbriers gall mystery resolved? New species of Aprostocetus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) gall inducer and two new parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) associated with Smilax in southern Florida, USA. Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 80:71-98.

Interpretive Summary: Gall-inducing insects cause tumor-like deformities on plants that can affect their growth of reproduction. Many gall inducers are pests of agricultural or horticultural plants and cost millions of dollars of loss annually in the USA. We describe a new species of gall-inducing wasp and two new parasitic wasps that attack it. Parasitic wasps provide a measure of biological control of pest insects. This information will be useful to biocontrol specialists, extension agents, entomologists, and those with an interest in insect gall induction.

Technical Abstract: Aprostocetus smilax Gates & Zhang, sp. nov., is described from stem and leaf galls on Smilax havanensis in southern Florida, USA. It is the third species of Aprostocetus known to induce plant galls. Two parasitoids of A. smilax are also described: Phylloxeroxenus smilax Gates & Zhang sp. nov. and Sycophila smilax Gates & Zhang, sp. nov.. We conclude A. smilax is the true gall inducer on Smilax, and thus the host records of Diastrophus smilacis Ashmead and their inquiline Periclistus smilacis Ashmead from Smilax, are erroneous.