Neuroterus washingtonensis, agamic generation

[see paper for photo, figures 17 and 18 on page 11 of the pdf]

Hosts: Quercus garryana

Gall: Monothalamous subovoid chambers just under the bark of slender twigs; approximately 1 x 1.5 mm, somewhat conical at outer end, oriented up and out; the thin brownish shell incorporated into the soft pith. Galls may occur singly or in groups up to 8, usually at a node or just below a bud; slight swelling distortion may occur. They seldom cause any discoloration to the stem. Exit holes made by the adults are relatively small, and often involve a short tunnel obscured by chewed bark. Sometimes galls occur in sufficient quantity to stunt or kill twigs and small branches.

Agamic females chew their way out of the twigs during March and April, and oviposit on the upper vein surface of young leaves in the opening buds.

Galls of agamic N washingtonensis are frequently on the same twigs as the bud galls of agamic A opertus, or the twig galls of agamic D eldoradensis. Agamic females may oviposit in the same buds as agamic Bassettia ligni, but the much larger galls produced by the former are usually dominant.