Rabdophaga jaapi is a species of gall midges which forms galls on creeping willow (Salix repens).

Rabdophaga jaapi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Cecidomyiidae
Genus: Rabdophaga
Species:
R. jaapi
Binomial name
Rabdophaga jaapi
Synonyms

Dasineura repentis Skuhrava, 1986
Rabdophaga repentis

Description

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The gall is an enlarged bud on S. repens. It is surrounded with small thickened leaves which have short silver-white hairs.[1] Correct identification of the species of Salix is important for the identification of R. jaapi, because it is similar to R. rosariella, which forms galls on sallows.[a] The gall of R. jaapi can also be positively identified by the single reddish-yellow larva which has a sternal spatula, i.e. ″... a structure on the underside of the thorax of the final (third) instar larva of Cecidomyiidae...″.[1][2]

The species has one generation a year (i.e. univoltine) and the larva hibernates in the gall where it pupates.[3]

Distribution

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Has been found in Denmark and Great Britain.

Notes

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  1. ^ In this case sallow refers to S. aurita, S. caprea and S. cinerea.

References

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  1. ^ a b Redfern, Margaret; Shirley, Peter; Bloxham, Michael (2011). British Plant Galls (Second ed.). Shrewsbury: FSC Publications. pp. 282–299. ISBN 978-1-85153-284-1.
  2. ^ "Rabdophaga ?jaapi". Dorset Nature. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  3. ^ Ellis, W N. "Rabdophaga jaapi". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 2 January 2018.