Aciurina bigeloviae

(Cockerell, 1890)

Cotton-gall Tephritid

Aciurina bigeloviae is a -inducing to western North America that forms distinctive , woolly 'cotton' galls on Ericameria nauseosa (rabbitbrush), specifically the variety graveolens. The was originally described as Trypeta bigeloviae by Cockerell in 1890. It exhibits I pattern and produces spherical cotton galls that serve as microhabitats for complex . The species is sister to A. trixa, with which it occurs sympatrically in New Mexico, though the two species produce markedly different gall types.

Aciurina bigeloviae - inat 337262923 by {{{name}}}. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Aciurina bigeloviae: /ˌeɪsɪˈjʊərɪnə bɪˌɡɛloʊˈvaɪ.iː/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from the sister Aciurina trixa by : A. bigeloviae produces , woolly spherical 'cotton' galls, while A. trixa forms resinous, waxy 'smooth' galls. Distinguished from A. luminaria by pattern ( I versus Type III) and gall shape (spherical versus teardrop). Gall association with Ericameria nauseosa var. graveolens provides additional diagnostic context.

Images

Habitat

Associated with Ericameria nauseosa (rabbitbrush) shrubs in western North America; specifically linked to E. n. subsp. nauseosa var. graveolens. form on stems.

Distribution

Western North America; documented from New Mexico (northern and central regions, 14 sites sampled), Colorado, United States, and Canada.

Host Associations

  • Ericameria nauseosa subsp. nauseosa var. graveolens - Specific variety of rabbitbrush on which are induced

Life Cycle

emerge from ; develops within gall through the fall. has been documented in laboratory rearing conditions.

Behavior

Induces formation by laying on ; the developing gall serves as the larval microhabitat. Acts as an engineer by creating novel plant structures that support diverse .

Ecological Role

engineer that maintains large, rich, multi-trophic . serve as for 24 documented across 6 including , , and . The associated community is richer and more complex than other documented -Asteraceae systems.

Similar Taxa

  • Aciurina trixaSister occurring in sympatry; distinguished by resinous, waxy 'smooth' versus the woolly 'cotton' galls of A. bigeloviae
  • Aciurina luminariaDistinguished by III pattern (versus Type I in A. bigeloviae) and teardrop-shaped cotton (versus spherical)

Tags

Sources and further reading