Galls on thistles.
Plant galls - the more we learn, the more there is to know! Approximately 15000 insect species ( c. 2% of all known insects) form galls, and this habit is extremely common over a range of floras and latitudes. Yet, there is still no general consensus on why they exist. Thistle-galling insects are relatively well known and are used as biological control agents (of thistles) and model ecological systems.
Masters
Gregory J
GJ
CABI Bioscience, Egham, UK. g.masters@cabi.org
Ward
Nicola L
NL
D000818:Animals; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000469:parasitology*; D004175:Diptera / Q000502:physiology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000469:parasitology; D010941:Plant Tumors / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology*