Rhoophilus loewi Mayr, 1881

Afrotropical: South Africa: Western and Northern Cape Provinces.

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  © Simon van Noort (Iziko Museums)

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