台灣剌桐釉小蜂蟲癭大發生

Outbreak of erythrina gall wasp (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) on Erythrina spp. (Fabaceae) in Taiwan

2003年在台灣南部刺桐上發現的蟲癭，如今已快速擴散全台，包含刺桐、黃脈刺桐、珊瑚刺桐、雞冠刺桐、毛刺桐、馬提羅亞刺桐等5種及1亞種刺桐嚴重受害。受害部位包括葉片、葉柄、芽與嫩枝部分，植物組織明顯外突腫脹，嚴重時呈現捲曲與落葉現象，甚至造成植株死亡。造癭者為刺桐釉小蜂Quadrastichus erythrinae Kim，為近年來於新加坡、模里西斯與留尼旺島上發現的新種，在當地亦造成數種刺桐樹的嚴重危害。本文報導台灣刺桐屬植物受害情形，提供此一刺桐釉小蜂的鑑定特徵以及防治建議。

"The erythrina gall wasp was first recorded damaging coral trees, Erythrina spp. (Fabaceae), in southern Taiwan in 2003; since then it has rapidly spread throughout the island on various species of Erythrina. Galls form on the leaves, petioles, young shoots, and stems. Obvious swelling can be seen on infected tissue parts, and severe infestations cause curling of young shoots, defoliation, and death of the tree. At present, 5 species and a subspecies of coral trees have been recorded as suitable hosts. The gall inducer is Quadrastichus erythrinae Kim (Eulophidae), newly reported in Singapore, Mauritius, and Réunion, and it has also caused severe damage in those areas. In this research, we report the symptoms, the distribution of infested coral trees in Taiwan, identification characteristics of the galler, and pest control suggestions."