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Dryocosmus kuriphilus

Basic information
Scientific name Dryocosmus kuriphilus (No picture)
Common names Oriental chestnut gall wasp
Higher taxon Austrocynipidae, Cynipoidea, Hymenoptera
Natural range Continental China
Habitat Parasite on plants of genus Castanea.
Invasion information
Range in Japan Almost entire mainland of Japan. Range in Japan
Origin Continental China
Date The first record in Japan was at Okayama Pref., by observation of gall in 1941, and by collecting specimen in 1944.
Route Accidental: Possibly hitchhiking on chestnut graft or young tree taken by Japanese soldiers stationed in He Bei, eastern China.
Impact Actually: Parasite on native wild chestnut. Damage on agriculture of Japanese chestnut (Castanea crenata).
Potentially: The infestation of this species might cause increase of a native parasitic wasp (e.g., Torymus beneficus), and indirectly impact on native cynipid gall wasp.
Native organism(s) affected: Castanea crenata. Native community of parasitic and gall wasps.
Regulation in Japan Cynipidae gall wasps are designated as Quarantine Pest (the Plant Protection Law).
Introduced range in other countries South Korea, Italy, southeastern USA.
Reference Notes