Background Research on the Goldenrod Gallfly Eurosta Solidaginis

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Basic Scientific Knowledge on the Topic: Before exploring further research into the topic of the goldenrod gallfly Eurosta solidaginis, the current knowledge on the research topic must be explored. The goldenrod gallfly Eurosta solidaginis is a parasite on goldenrod plants (D. Crowe, personal communication, 2013). Very small (approximately five millimeters), the adult flies are very clumsy and are very poor fliers. Adult goldenrod gallflies live for approximately two weeks, making their life all about reproduction. The adult female fly is identified by their ovipositor, which is an egg-laying tube that extends from their body (Abrahamson and Heinrich, 2000). In order to protect their larvae, the adult female flies oviposit the eggs into the stem of the goldenrod plant Solidago altissima. While the females may lay several eggs per goldenrod stem, each plant usually ends up with one surviving larva in one gall. Once born, the fly larvae hatch from their eggs and begin eating the inside of the goldenrod stem. The larvae emit a chemical in their saliva which mimics a plant hormone that causes the plant to grow a gall in which the larvae live (Abrahamson and Heinrich, 2000). The larvae stay in the gall and then make an escape tunnel in the fall which they will utilize in the spring. The gallfly larvae produce a natural anti-freeze chemical in their bodies known as glycerol which helps to keep them alive in the winter by drying out the outside body tissues and allowing it to freeze while keeping the central cells liquid. Once spring does arrive, the larvae transform into a pupa and they finally become a winged adult.

They then escape the gall through their previously dug tunnel and rest for some time. Following this, t...

... middle of paper ...

..., Department of Zoology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, Available from Journal of Insect Physiology. (46 (2000) 655–661)Retrieved from http://www.units.muohio.edu/cryolab/publications/documents/IrwinLee00.pdf

Levis, N. A., Yi, S. X., & Lee, R. E. (2012). Mild desiccation rapidly increases freeze tolerance of the goldenrod gall fly, eurosta solidaginis: evidence for drought-induced rapid cold-hardening. Manuscript submitted for publication, Available from Journal of Experimental Biology. (215, 3768-3773)Retrieved from http://jeb.biologists.org/content/215/21/3768.full
Wise, M. J., Abrahamson, W. G., & Cole, J. A. (2010).The role of nodding stems in the goldenrod–gall–fly interaction: A test of the “ducking” hypothesis. Manuscript submitted for publication, Available from American Journal of Botany. (0900227)Retrieved from http://www.amjbot.org/content/97/3/525.full

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