Galled flower and parasitic wasp on Holly-Leaved Redberry

Starting from the left side, here is a normal new flower of Holly-Leaved Redberry (Rhamnus ilicifolia) in the Rhamnaceae plant family. Then in the center is a galled flower on the same shrub. I'm not sure what critter makes these galls, as they are not mentioned in my book by Ron Russo, "Field Guide to Plant Galls" (UC Press, 2006). On the side of the gall is a tiny "parasitic wasp" (Hymenoptera) - a predator on the larvae inside! I believe the wasp is a Chalcid Wasp (Chalcidoidea), maybe in the family Torymidae which favor galls. See this photo of a similar wasp on a different gall. If you look close, you can see the wasp's ovipositor inserted into the galled flower and into the gall-inducing insect within. It seems odd that the wasp's ovipositor comes from the front of the abdomen, but I believe they fold it under their belly to the middle like this. The galled flower has a parasite inside, so I reckon this wasp is a hyperparasite - a parasite whose host is a parasite. I suppose this isn't the best photo, but I was excited to capture this scene! (San Marcos Pass, 31 March 2017)

There was still some residual breeze today, but the big winds subsided this morning. It was pretty terrible yesterday and last night with 30-40 mph gusts, that's a lot of air going somewhere! I'm looking forward to getting out with my camera tomorrow.

(Apparently the [Post a Flickr Reaction] is an April Fools joke - see the Flickr Help Forum. Good joke, but please don't!)

Taken in: United States / California / Santa Barbara (show map)

Taken on: March 31, 2017

Tags:

Chalcid Wasp

Chalcidoidea

Torymidae

parasitic wasp

Parasitica

Apocrita

Hymenoptera

hyperparasite

gall

Holly-Leaved Redberry

Rhamnus ilicifolia

Rhamnaceae

San Marcos Pass

Santa Barbara County

California « less

Sets appears in: • Galls • All Insects 4 more » • Wasps and Bees (Hymenoptera) « less

Groups appears in: • Wasps • Insect Photography more » • Plant Galls • Native Plants of California • Parasitic Wasps « less

Camera: Nikon D7100, f/13.0, 1/320 sec, 105mm (=157mm), ISO 280 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D7100
Aperture:	f/13.0
Exposure Time:	0.003 sec (1/320)
Focal Length:	105mm (35mm equivalent: 157mm)
ISO:	280
Exposure Bias:	+1/3 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Manual
Light Source:	Fine Weather
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Ver.1.01
Show full info

Stats: 816 views / 3 comments

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