Dorytomus taeniatus

Dorytomus taeniatus is a species of weevil native to Europe.^[2][3] It was first described by Johann Christian Fabricius in 1781. The larvae cause a small growth (known as a gall) on the catkins of willows (Salix species).

Dorytomus taeniatus
Dorytomus taeniatus 3-4,5 mm
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Polyphaga
Infraorder:	Cucujiformia
Family:	Curculionidae
Genus:	Dorytomus
Species:	D. taeniatus
Binomial name
Dorytomus taeniatus (Fabricius, 1781)[1]

Description

Eggs are laid during the autumn in the axils of catkin buds and hatch the following spring.^[4] The larvae cause an inconspicuous distortion of, usually, female catkins, thickening the rachis.^[5] Catkins drop earlier than uninfected catkins and the larvae pupate in the soil.^[6] Close examination of the gall is necessary as Redfern et al. (2011) note that sometimes, thickening of the rachis can be wound tissue rather than a gall and according to Plant Parasites of Europe identification is only possible by examining the weevils.^[5][6]

The gall has been recorded from white willow (S. alba), eared willow (S. aurita'), goat willow (S. caprea), grey willow (S. cinerea) and purple willow (S.purpurea).^[6]

Adults are 4–5 millimetres (0.16–0.20 in) long and brownish-black to black. They can be found from May onwards, browsing on the leaves, removing patches of tissue and exposing the network of fine veins.^[4]

Distribution

Found in western and central Europe including Great Britain (common) and Scandinavia.^[7]