Neuroterus valhalla is a species of gall wasp from North America that forms galls on the Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana). It was first discovered on the campus of Rice University.[1][2]

Neuroterus valhalla
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Cynipidae
Genus: Neuroterus
Species:
N. valhalla
Binomial name
Neuroterus valhalla
Brandão-Dias, Zhang, Pirro, Vinson, Weinersmith, Ward, Forbes & Egan, 2022

This species of gall wasp produces a chemical which in turn manipulates the host tree into providing for the wasp eggs. The tree does this by providing a protective layer around the eggs and nutrition for the larva.

[3][4]

References

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  1. ^ Brandão-Dias, Pedro F. P.; Zhang, Yuanmeng Miles; Pirro, Stacy; Vinson, Camila C.; Weinersmith, Kelly L.; Ward, Anna K. G.; Forbes, Andrew A.; Egan, Scott P. (January 2022). "Describing biodiversity in the genomics era: A new species of Nearctic Cynipidae gall wasp and its genome". Systematic Entomology. 47 (1): 94–112. Bibcode:2022SysEn..47...94B. doi:10.1111/syen.12521. ISSN 0307-6970. S2CID 245838502.
  2. ^ "Neuroterus Valhalla: Biologists Discover New Insect Species". Nature World News. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  3. ^ Brandão-Dias, Pedro F. P.; Zhang, Yuanmeng Miles; Pirro, Stacy; Vinson, Camila C.; Weinersmith, Kelly L.; Ward, Anna K. G.; Forbes, Andrew A.; Egan, Scott P. (January 2022). "Describing biodiversity in the genomics era: A new species of Nearctic Cynipidae gall wasp and its genome". Systematic Entomology. 47 (1): 94–112. Bibcode:2022SysEn..47...94B. doi:10.1111/syen.12521. ISSN 0307-6970. S2CID 245838502.
  4. ^ "Neuroterus Valhalla: Biologists Discover New Insect Species". Nature World News. Retrieved 28 October 2023.