Orthopelma

Taschenberg, 1865

Orthopelma is a Holarctic of , the sole genus in the Orthopelmatinae (). are that develop within on Rosaceae, primarily attacking in the genus Diplolepis on Rosa species. The genus contains 13 extant species distributed across the Nearctic and Palearctic regions.

Orthopelmatinae by (c) Tyler Bishop, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tyler Bishop. Used under a CC-BY license.Orthopelma bedelliae by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.Orthopelma diastrophi by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Orthopelma: //ˌɔːrθoʊˈpɛlmə//

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Identification

The Orthopelmatinae distinguishes Orthopelma from all other . -level identification requires examination of morphological characters detailed in for East Asian and Holarctic faunas.

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Habitat

Found within on Rosaceae plants, particularly galls induced by Diplolepis on roses (Rosa). Nearctic records also include galls of Diastrophus on Rubus.

Distribution

Holarctic: documented from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and across North America and Eurasia including China, Japan, and Russia.

Host Associations

  • Diplolepis eglanteriae - (-larval )O. mediator emerges from of this
  • Diplolepis nervosa - (-larval )O. mediator emerges from of this
  • Diplolepis mayri - (-larval )O. brevicorne emerges from of this
  • Diplolepis rosae - (-larval )O. brevicorne emerges from of this
  • Diplolepis nezha - O. aobing described from of this on Rosa chinensis var. spontanea
  • Diastrophus - Nearctic records from on Rubus
  • Rosa - Primary for associated
  • Rubus - for Nearctic Diastrophus records

Life Cycle

occurs into of -forming . develop as within host galls, with at least some (O. chinensis) having larvae that overwinter within galls.

Behavior

Females exhibit -searching to locate containing host . O. brevicorne has been observed showing preference for smaller host galls.

Ecological Role

regulating of () on Rosaceae.

Similar Taxa

  • Trematopygus vellicariusAlso oviposits into ; distinguished by placement in Ctenopelmatinae rather than Orthopelmatinae

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Sources and further reading