Case study

Leptocybe invasa and Ophelimus maskelli, two gall wasps introduced in Tunisia

Three images: a female gall wasp, the galls created by one and a close up of gall wasp in a gall,

Objective:

The main objective of this factsheet is to help technicians and forsters to recognize, in the field, insect gall wasps of Eucalyptus species.

Start/end date:

Context:

Two insects (Hymenoptera; Eulophidae) were detected in Tunisia on the foliage of E. camaldulensis trees: Leptocybe invasa recorded in 2004 and Ophelimus maskelli recorded in 2006. These wasps are both gall inducers and cause damages mainly to eucalyptus seedlings in nurseries and young plantations. 

Contacts:

Samir Dhahri, Olfa  Ezzine, Sofian Hdidi, Hatem Trabelsi 

dhahrisamir@yahoo.fr