Smilax Leaf Galls (Meunieriella on-smilax)

I was thinking this was a fungus of some sort at first, but these images made me think otherwise. What do you all think?
https://bugguide.net/node/view/578345/bgimage

Also, I'm not sure whether to make a species record for Meunieriella on-smilax as BugGuide has done. I think it is being used as a placeholder until this species is fully described.

comments (4)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Interesting question that I don't think has come up before. I'm not against the placeholder ID if the genus is stable, and it clearly is a distinguishable species that is just waiting for a name. I'd call that an explicitly undescribed species.

Yet in my opinion we should do it with moderation, conservatively. Not because of this example, because of more generous/vague possible scenarios that could occur.

Thoughts? Posted 5 years ago
1. Flown Kimmerling
  
  Lion
  
  I'm not really sure what to do either. I'm also hesitant to just attach an ID to anything, but I think it MIGHT be okay to put a placeholder if a species name is incoming? It would be the equivalent of attaching the BAMONA number tags to moths. Posted 5 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Let's just decide case by case. In this case, I'd say go for it :) Posted 5 years ago
  2. 1. Flown Kimmerling
      
      Lion
      
      Will do! Posted 5 years ago