Plate galler
Raised, hard plate galls on western white gum leaves showing visible tiny, round wasp exit holes
© Queensland Government
Severe damage in young western white gum plantations showing brown affected leaves
© Queensland Government
The plate galler is a tiny wasp that completes its life cycle in the flat part of the leaves on young western white gum. The feeding larvae induce the tree to produce plate-like gall tissue on the upper leaf surfaces.
As the most important known pest of western white gum, it causes severe defoliation in young plantations.
Scientific name
Ophelimus spp.
Description
- Raised, brown plate-like galls on the upper surface of leaves.
- Plate gall masses often cover the leaf surface completely.
- Very small exit holes of adult wasps are sometimes seen on the gall surface.
Distribution
- Mainly found in Queensland.
Hosts
- Western white gum (Eucalyptus argophloia).
Damage
- When severe, the damage can affect all leaves, resulting in complete defoliation.
- Tree growth can be affected significantly for the first 1–3 years in plantations.
Resources and research
- Carnegie, A, Lawson, SA, Smith, T, Pegg, GS, Stone, C, and McDonald, J 2008, Healthy hardwoods: a field guide to pests, diseases and nutritional disorders in subtropical hardwoods, Forest and Wood Products Australia, Victoria.
- Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA)
- Last reviewed: 12 Dec 2018
- Last updated: 12 Dec 2018