''Bactericera albiventris'' is a

hemiptera Hemiptera (; ) is an order of insects, commonly called true bugs, comprising more than 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, assassin bugs, bed bugs, and shield bugs. They range in size from ...

n bug in the family

Triozidae Triozidae is one of seven families, collectively referred to as Psylloidea, plant lice, based on the type genus ''Trioza''. They had traditionally been considered part of a single family, Psyllidae, but recent classifications divide the superfam ...

, which causes

gall Galls (from the Latin , 'oak-apple') or ''cecidia'' (from the Greek , anything gushing out) are a kind of swelling growth on the external tissues of plants. Plant galls are abnormal outgrowths of plant tissues, similar to benign tumors or war ...

s on the leaves of

willow Willows, also called sallows and osiers, of the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 350 species (plus numerous hybrids) of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions. Most species are known ...

s (''Salix'' species). It was first described by

Arnold Förster Arnold Förster (20 January 1810 – 13 August 1884) was a German entomologist, who worked mainly on Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. Life Arnold Förster was born on 20 January 1810 in Aachen, Germany, where he died on 12 August 1884. He was Oberleh ...

in 1848.

Description of the gall

The gall is a small dimple (< 3 mm) on the underside of a willow leaf. Inside is a flat

nymph A nymph (; ; sometimes spelled nymphe) is a minor female nature deity in ancient Greek folklore. Distinct from other Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature; they are typically tied to a specific place, land ...

which is surrounded with wax. The gall is raised on the upper surface of the leaf. If there is a heavy infestation, leaves (especially younger ones) may curl. The galls are found on almond willow (''

Salix triandra ''Salix triandra'', with the common names almond willow, almond-leaved willow or black maul willow, is a species of willow native to Europe and Western and Central Asia. It is found from south-eastern England east to Lake Baikal, and south to Sp ...

''), Babylon willow ( ''S. babylonica''), bay willow ( ''S. pentandra''), common osier ( ''S. viminalis''), crack willow ( ''S. fragilis''), eared willow ( ''S. aurita''), olive willow ( ''S. elaeagnos''), purple willow ( ''S. purpurea'') and white willow ( ''S. alba'').

Distribution

''Bactericera albiventris'' has been recorded from western Europe.

References

External links

British Bugs
* {{Taxonbar, from=Q10424280 Triozidae Gall-inducing insects Hemiptera of Europe Insects described in 1848 Taxa named by Arnold Förster Willow galls