Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds - Online edition

Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds

Erythrina gall wasp (268)

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Photo 1. Shoot of Erythrina variegata, caused by the Erythrina gall wasp, Quadrastichus erythrinae.

Photo 2. Close-up of Photo 1 to show the galls - gross distortions of the leaves and petioles of Erythrina variegata.

Photo 3. Dieback of Erythrina variegata caused by the Erythrina gall wasp, Quadrastichus erythrinae.

Summary

  • Worldwide distribution. On Erythrina species. There are more than 100 species worldwide in tropical and sub-tropical countries, and they are used as ornamentals, living fences, and also as shade trees. An important pest.
  • Eggs are laid in the shoots, and larvae cause leaves to deform and fall; repeated attacks cause dieback and tree death. Seedlings attacked, leading to species loss.
  • Spread occurs by flight on the wind and, perhaps, on leaves on boats and planes.
  • Natural enemies: parasitoid wasp collected in Africa, introduced and found effective in Hawaii.
  • Cultural control: none recommended..
  • Chemical control: none recommended, except imidacloprid injection of especially valuable trees. [Note, in some countries, control is controversial: Erythrina is the food of fruit piercing moth larvae, in others it is a valuable native tree.]

Common Name

Erythrina gall wasp

Scientific Name

Quadrastichus erythrinae

Photo 4. Galls of Quadrastichus erythrinae showing the exit holes of the gall wasp.

Photo 5. Male and female Erythrina gall wasp, Quadrastichus erythrinae.

AUTHOR Grahame Jackson
Information from Heu RA, et al. (2008) Erythrina erythrinae Kim (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). New Pest Advisory. No. 05-03. State of Hawaii, Department of Agriculture; and from CABI (2015) Quadrastichus erythrinae (Erythrina gall wasp). Crop Protection Compendium (https://www.cabi.org/cpc/restricted/?target=%2fcpc%2fdatasheet%2f46220); and from Hawaii Invasive Species Council (2019) Invasive species: Erythrina gall wasp (Quadrastichus erythrinae). (https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/hisc/info/biocontrol/latest-biocontrol/erythrina-gall-wasp/). Photos 1&2 Albert (Bud) Mayfield, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org. Photo 3 Albert (Bud) Mayfield, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org. Photo 4 Richard Markham, ACIAR, Canberra. Photo 5 Erich G. Vallery, USDA Forest Service - SRS-4552, Bugwood.org.

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

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