Hackberry Disc Gall Psyllid

Pachypsylla celtidisumbilicus

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Sternorrhyncha
Superfamily: Psylloidea
Family: Carsidaridae
Subfamily: Pachypsyllinae
Genus: Pachypsylla
Species: celtidisumbilicus

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Pachypsylla celtidisumbilicus: /ˌpækɪˈsɪlə sɛlˌtɪdɪsˈʌmbəlɪkəs/

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

Images

Pachypsylla celtidisumbilicus gall by CriticalDrinking. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pachypsylla celtidisumbilicus by Beatriz Moisset. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pachypsylla celtidisumbilicus galls by Beatriz Moisset. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Summary

Pachypsylla celtidisumbilicus is a species of psyllid known for forming distinctive galls on the leaves of hackberry trees, which serve as both habitat and food source for its larvae.

Physical Characteristics

Galls on upper surface of leaf circular, abruptly depressed at outer margin with an elongate nipple in the center; ventral surface elevated, 2mm high and 5mm wide, circular, gradually rising with a shallow depression in the center.

Identification Tips

Resembles Pachypsylla celtidismamma; differentiation requires careful examination of galls as adults were not initially described separately.

Habitat

Primarily found on Celtis occidentalis (common hackberry).

Distribution

Eastern United States.

Diet

Herbivorous; the larvae feed on plant tissues within the gall.

Life Cycle

The gall serves as both habitat and nourishment for the larvae, which develop inside until maturity.

Reproduction

Reproduces by inducing gall formation on host plants where they complete their life cycle.

Ecosystem Role

Acts as a gall-inducing insect that affects plant health and can alter plant community dynamics.

Collecting Methods

Visual inspection of host plants for characteristic galls.
Collecting galls for species identification under a microscope.

Preservation Methods

Drying galls for permanent specimens.
Preserving specimens in alcohol for study.

Evolution

Gall-inducing abilities suggest a complex co-evolution with host plants, involving intricate biochemical interactions between the insect and plant.

Similar Taxa

Pachypsylla celtidismamma
Psyllids
Gall-inducing insects

Misconceptions

Some may confuse with similar gall-producing species that induce galls of different shape or size.