120
Xestophanes brevitarsus
Galls arc small 2-3 mm. diameter and
rounded, sometimes coalescent and
normally on aerial parts of the host.
Probably the greatest threat to the species is
scrubbing over of the habitat, leading to
shading out of the host plant.
The adult insect is distinguished from
X. potentillae (see below) by having the
notaulices complete, fourth segment of the
hind tarsus as broad as long and the third
antennal segment longer than the fourth.
Xestophanes potentillae (Retzius in Degeer,1783) lkm.sq. records: 27 Local
Host: Potentilla reptans L., Creeping Cinquefoil
Part galled: stem base
Recorded from Danbury and Epping Forest (Filch. 1882 ) but not included in Niblett (1957) the
species is widespread but local.
Xestophanes potentillae
Galls arc usually located low on the stem
at the junction with the root and can form
a large mass up to 2-3cm. across. They
usually occur where the host plant grows
in shortish vegetation, often on slightly
raised ground. Particularly large
examples have been found where the host
is growing in pebbles or gravel e.g.
surface drains on coastal cliffs at Frinton-
on-Sea.
The adult insect is distinguished from
X. brevitarsis (above) by the notauliccs
being absent anteriorly, the fourth tarsal
segment longer than broad and the third
antennal segment as long as the fourth.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 16 (1999)