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Rhoophilus loewi

(Life: Kingdom: Metazoa (animals); Phylum: Arthropoda; Class: Hexapoda; Order: Hymenoptera; Superfamily: Cynipoidea;  Family: Cynipidae; Subfamily: Cynipinae; Genus: Rhoophilus)

Rhoophilus loewi Mayr 1881.

Rhoophilus_loewi

 Rhoophilus_loewi
Rhoophilus_loewi
Distribution

Afrotropical: South Africa: Western and Northern Cape Provinces.
Biology

Inquiline forming secondary cells in galls induced by Scyrotis species (Cecidosidae) on Rhus (Anacardiacaea) species. The larval cells expand into the hollow interior of the host gall resulting in death of the gall inducing moth larva.

References

 Mayr, G. 1881. Die genera der gallenbewohnenden Cynipiden. Jahresberichte der Rossauer Communal Oberrealschule im I. Bezirke 20: 1–38

van Noort, S., Stone, G.N., Whitehead, V.B. & Nieves-Aldrey, J.L.  2007. Biology of Rhoophilus loewi (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea: Cynipidae), with implications for the evolution of inquilinism in gall wasps. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 90: 153-172.

Credits

Photographs by Simon van Noort © Iziko Museums of Cape Town

Matt Buffington (Systematic Entomology Laboratory, USDA/ARS) played an integral role in the development of the Cynipoidea pages

Web page development by Simon van Noort (Iziko South African Museum)

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