Aulogymnus skianerus

A member of the family Eulophidae, this wasp is parasitoid of cynipid wasps. Previous synonym was Olynx skianerus.

The common gall hosts of this species are; Andricus lignicola agamic, A. lignicola sexual, A. quercusramuli sexual, Biorhiza pallida sexual and Diplolepis rosae (Reared from two locations in England, the wasp is new to this gall, and has only once been found on Continental Europe).

The only recordings of this species from Bedeguar galls (Diplolepis rosae) are;
A single rearing of two males in Germany in 1979.
In Cheddar woods, Somerset, in 1999, two males were again reared from a bedeguar gall.
The last record was of a single female reared from Minehead, Somerset.

The female wasp body measurements range from 1.5-3.5mm, averaging out at 2.8mm
The head is dark green/gold and reticulated with largish, brighter red/brown eyes that have dark internal reticulation and dark neutral brown ocelli. The antennae are neutral gold/brown and hairy, usually with a dark metallic pedicel and scape, although they can sometimes be golden. There are two rings and 3 funicular segments.
The thorax is strongly arched in profile and all dark green/gold in colour. The mesoscutum and scutellum are reticulated as is the mesepimeron which is reticulted in semi circular swirls. The notaulices are full length and deep, and the tegulae are neutral brown in colour. The wings are clear but with two fuscous clouds, one at the stigma and the other is at the junction of the marginal and stigmal veins which may be difficult to see. The stigmal vein is very dark, as is the junction between the marginal and basel veins. It has a distinct elongated stigma and a moderate post marginal vein. The legs have metallic coxae and femora with the remainder being pale yellow, including the trochantellus and 4 tarsel segments.
The pointed gaster (abdomen) is very dark, shiney metallic green and the ovipositor sheaths are not visible.

The male wasp measures 1.3-3.1mm, averaging at 2.1mm.
The head is dark metallic green and reticulated with deep brown/red eyes and large dark ocelli. The hairy antennae have two rings and four funicular segments with the third segment being fat by comparison. The colour of the antennae is netral brown with a dark metallic scape and pedicel.
The thorax is again, like the female, strongly arched in profile and reticulate. The colour is dark clouded metallic green with gold tinges. The notaulices are deep and full length and the tegulae are neutral brown. The wings are clear and heavily fringed with transparent hairs. The veins and hairs on the wing are mid neutral brown. There is a distinct long stigma and the post stigmal vein is quite long. The legs have metallic coxae, green and brown femora, golden trochantellus and rest are pale yellow with four tarsel segments.
The gaster is wide but thin from the side and is dark metallic greeny brown in colour although it may well appear bronze from above.

More detailed descriptions and identification keys are available from Robin Williams at the British Plant Gall Society.

top of page