Massalongia rubra

Massalongia rubra
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Cecidomyiidae
Genus:	Massalongia
Species:	M. rubra
Binomial name
Massalongia rubra (Kieffer, 1890)

Massalongia rubra is a species of gall midge which forms galls in the leaves of birch.[1] It was first described by the French naturalist and entomologist, Jean-Jacques Kieffer in 1890 and is found in Europe.[1]

Description of the Gall

An elongate, woody swelling (up to 10 mm long) of the mid-rib of a leaf which can extend into the base of lateral veins and the petiole. The gall is more prominent on the underside of the leaf and is initially green, later red-purple and brown. Sometimes the gall is surrounded by a green island on a yellowing leaf. Each gall contains a single larve which are white or yellowish when young and red when mature, with a weak sternal spatula.[2] Mature larva leave the gall in late summer to hibernate and pupate in the soil. Adults emerge in the following spring or summer.[3]

Affected trees are silver birch (Betula pendula) and downy birch (Betula pubescens).[4]

Distribution

Massalongia rubra has been recorded from Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Sweden.[4][5][6]

References

1. R.J. Gagne; M. Jaschof (2021). A Catalog of the Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) of the World (5th ed.). ISBN 978-0-9863941-3-3. Wikidata Q109561625.
2. Redfern, Margaret; Shirley, Peter; Boxham, Michael (2011). British Plant Galls (Second ed.). Shrewsbury: Field Study Council. pp. 52–6. ISBN 978-185153-284-1.
3. Chinery, Michael (2011). Britain's Plant Galls. Old Basing, Hampshire: WildGuides Ltd. p. 37. ISBN 978-190365743-0.
4. Elis, W N. "Massalongia rubra (Kieffer, 1890)". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
5. " Massalongia rubra (Kieffer, 1890)". BioLib. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
6. "Massalongia rubra (Kieffer 1890)". EOL. Retrieved 2 April 2021.