Belonocnema kinseyi

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Superfamily: Cynipoidea
Family: Cynipidae
Tribe: Cynipini
Genus: Belonocnema
Species: kinseyi

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Belonocnema kinseyi: /bɛloʊˈnɒknɪmə ˈkɪnsaɪaɪ/

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

Images

Belonocnema kinseyi by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Belonocnema kinseyi by Annika Lindqvist. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Sexual Generation gall of Belonocnema kinseyi by Adam Kranz. Used under a CC0 license.

Summary

Belonocnema kinseyi is a species of gall wasp forming galls on live oaks. It exhibits both sexual and asexual generations, and it is significant for studies of speciation in the Cynipidae family.

Physical Characteristics

The spur on the anterior side of the fore tibia is shorter than the basitarsus and tibial spur in both sexual and asexual generations. The asexual generation galls are smooth, unilocular balls appearing on the ventral side of leaves, initially orange or light brown and darkening with age. The sexual generation galls are irregularly shaped, multilocular clusters appearing on small rootlets. Antennae with 14 segments in females or 15 in males with F1 excavated segments for the asexual generation; 13 segments for the sexual generation.

Identification Tips

Can be distinguished from B. fossoria by the shorter spur on the fore tibia and from B. treatae by the deeply delimited scutellar foveae and reddish-brown color in the sexual generation.

Habitat

Associated with Quercus fusiformis (Texas live oak) and Quercus virginiana (southern live oak). Galls form in various plant tissue the galls occur on the leaves of the asexual generation and on roots of the sexual generation.

Distribution

Found in southern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, a small area of Oklahoma and south, central, and southeast Texas.

Diet

Feeds on Quercus virginiana and Quercus fusiformis by inducing galls.

Life Cycle

Has both asexual and sexual generations. Asexual generation forms galls on leaves; the sexual generation forms galls on roots.

Reproduction

Involves both asexual and sexual reproduction. Asexual generation produces leaf galls, and sexual generation produces root galls.

Ecosystem Role

Contributes to the tree gall ecosystem, affecting the growth of its host plants.

Collecting Methods

Field collection of galls on host plants

Preservation Methods

Preservation in alcohol or dried specimens

Evolution

Belonocnema kinseyi was first named in 1921 and has undergone taxonomic revisions, including being synonymized with B. treatae before being re-elevated to species status in 2021 due to genetic and morphological analysis.