First Record of the Eucalyptus Gall Wasp, Ophelimus maskelli (Ashmead) in Nineveh Governorate, Iraq

Abstract

Al-Jalal, H.M.M. and W.A. Yahya. 2023. First Record of the Eucalyptus Gall Wasp, Ophelimus maskelli (Ashmead) in Nineveh Governorate, Iraq. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 41(1): 12-14. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-41.1.012014 Gall wasps ophelimus maskelli were detected for the first time in Nineveh Governorate on the foliage of Eucalyptus tree during June, 2021. Symptoms of infestation were in the form of pus-like swellings on the fresh stems and leaf blade. Leaves of Eucalyptus camaldulensis were heavily infested with the gall wasp, with leaves infestation rate and severity of infestation reached 42.2% and 5.2 galls/cm², respectively. The results showed that the severity of infestation at the basal and middle leaves was higher than the terminal leaves, and the averages reached 5.38, 2.73 and 1.70 galls/cm², respectively. Keywords: Swelling wasp, Eucalyptus, rate of infestation, severity of infestation.