Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae (Froggatt)

Distribution

Afrotropical region: South Africa (introduced). Australasian region: Australia. Deliberately introduced to South Africa in the 1990’s from Australia; successfully established.

Biology

Phytophagous gall former on Long-leaved Wattle, Acacia longifolia and Acacia melanoxylon (Mimosoidea). Adults live only a few days. Eggs are laid into flower buds. On hatching larvae instigate a galling response in the plant and live and feed inside the galls. Adults chew their way out of the gall before mating and searching for young flower buds. Effective biological control agent of introduced invasive Australian Long-Leaved wattle. Galling of flower buds reduces seed set and galls impact on and stunt plant growth.

Agricultural Research Council leaflet on biology of T. acaciaelongifoliae.

Parasitized by Pseudotorymus species (Torymidae).

References

Dennill, G.B., Donnelly, D., Steward, K. & Impson, F.A.C. 1999. Insect agents used for the biological control of Australian Acacia species and Paraserianthes lophantha (Willd.) Nielsen (Fabaceae) in South Africa. African Entomology Memoir 1: 45–54. 

Froggatt, W.W. 1892. Notes on Australian Cynipidae, with descriptions of several new species. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales (2) 7(1): 152-156.

Prinsloo, G.L. & Neser, O.C. 2007. Revision of the pteromalid wasp genus Trichilogaster Mayr (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea): gall-inducers on Australian acacias. African Entomology 15: 161-184.

van Noort, S. & Picker, M. 2011. Wasps, Bees, Ants. Class Insecta, Order Hymenoptera. Pp 140-146. In:  Picker, M. & Griffiths, C. (eds.) Alien & Invasive Animals. A South African perspective. Struik Nature.

Credits

Photographs © Simon van Noort (Iziko Museums of South Africa).