Dryocosmus albidus

Weld, 1944

Dryocosmus albidus is a of in the , described by Weld in 1944. Members of this are known to induce on oak trees (Quercus spp.). The species name 'albidus' (Latin for 'whitish') likely refers to some aspect of the 's coloration or the gall structure. As with other cynipids, this species has a complex typically involving both sexual and , with associated morphological and ecological differences between generations.

Dryocosmus albidus by (c) Jeff Clark, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jeff Clark. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Dryocosmus albidus: //dɹaɪoʊˈkɒzməs ælˈbaɪdəs//

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Host Associations

Quercus - Oaks are the primary plants for in the Dryocosmus; specific host associations for D. albidus are not well documented

Ecological Role

As a -inducing , this creates abnormal growths that provide and food for a of specialized , including , , and . The galls represent a distinct microhabitat within oak .

Similar Taxa

Dryocosmus okajimaiCongeneric discovered in Vietnam; both induce on oaks but differ in geographic distribution (D. albidus in North America, D. okajimai in Indochina)
Other Dryocosmus speciesShare the characteristic of inducing on oaks; -level identification requires examination of gall and structural features