Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » "Parasitica" - Parasitoid Wasps » Cynipoidea » Gall Wasps (Cynipidae) » Herb Gall Wasps (Aulacideini)

Tribe Aulacideini - Herb Gall Wasps

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Numbers · Size · Identification · Season · Food · Remarks · See Also · Works Cited
Cynipidae - Antistrophus - female Cynipidae, Rosinweed Stem Wasp, on Cup plant stem - Antistrophus silphii - female Aulacidea? from dead Lactuca c.f. canadensis stems - Aulacidea harringtoni Cynipidae, Rosinweed Stem Wasp, on Cup plant stem - Antistrophus silphii Gall on wild lettuce - Aulacidea podagrae stem gall on wild lettuce - Aulacidea gall - Aulacidea stem gall on wild lettuce - Aulacidea
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
No Taxon ("Parasitica" - Parasitoid Wasps)
Superfamily Cynipoidea
Family Cynipidae (Gall Wasps)
Tribe Aulacideini (Herb Gall Wasps)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Formerly considered part of Aylacini Ashmead, 1903; new tribe designated by Nieves-Aldrey, Nylander & Ronquist, 2015 (1). All of our herb-galling species are now part of this tribe except for two introduced species which are placed in Phanacidini.
Numbers
10 genera (Antistrophus, Aulacidea, Cecconia, Fumariphilus, Hedickiana, Isocolus, Liposthenes, Neaylax, Panteliella, Rhodus); 75 species worldwide (1). Many undescribed species exist, especially associated with Silphium in North America.
Size
Adults 1-5mm in length.
Identification
Most species in our area are either entirely reddish-brown (some Antistrophus) or have a black head and thorax with a red abdomen (some Antistrophus and most Aulacidea).
Season
Adults are active during the early summer.
Food
Aulacideini are gall inducers on several plant genera in our area. All known hosts belong to Asteraceae except Glechoma which belongs to Lamiaceae.

Chrysothamnus
Antistrophus chrysothamni
Glechoma
Liposthenes glechomae on G. hederacea
Lactuca
Aulacidea abdita
Aulacidea annulata/tumida on Lactuca canadensis (these species are likely synonymous pending ongoing revisionary work)
Aulacidea harringtoni
Aulacidea podagrae
Lygodesmia
Antistrophus pisum Walsh, 1869 on L. juncea
At least two other undescribed species of Antistrophus on L. juncea
Microseris
Antistrophus microseris
Nabalus
Aulacidea nabali
Silphium
Antistrophus jeanae on Silphium perfoliatum
Antistrophus laciniatus on Silphium laciniatum
Antistrophus meganae on Silphium terebinthinaceum
Antistrophus minor on Silphium laciniatum
Antistrophus rufus on Silphium laciniatum
Antistrophus silphii on Silphium integrifolium and perfoliatum

Host unknown/unconfirmed: Antistrophus bicolor (presumed to be associated with Silphium); Aulacidea ambrosiaecola (presumed to be associated with Ambrosia)

Undescribed species also exist on other hosts.
Remarks
Members of this tribe induce galls in herbaceous plants, mostly in Asteraceae and Lamiaceae. Some of the current genera are unnatural,
and the generic classification of this tribe is in need of revision. (1)
See Also
Phanacidini
Works Cited
1.Phylogeny, Evolution and Classification of Gall Wasps: The Plot Thickens
Contributed by Charley Eiseman on 10 February, 2012 - 1:31pm
Additional contributions by PaleoJon, Louis Nastasi
Last updated 20 March, 2023 - 2:20pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact