Neuroterus valhalla
{{Short description|Species of insect}}
{{Speciesbox
|image =
|genus = Neuroterus
|species = valhalla
|authority = Brandão-Dias, Zhang, Pirro, Vinson, Weinersmith, Ward, Forbes & Egan, 2022
}}
Neuroterus valhalla is a species of gall wasp from North America that forms galls on the Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana). It was first discovered on the campus of Rice University.{{Cite journal |last1=Brandão-Dias |first1=Pedro F. P. |last2=Zhang |first2=Yuanmeng Miles |last3=Pirro |first3=Stacy |last4=Vinson |first4=Camila C. |last5=Weinersmith |first5=Kelly L. |last6=Ward |first6=Anna K. G. |last7=Forbes |first7=Andrew A. |last8=Egan |first8=Scott P. |date=January 2022 |title=Describing biodiversity in the genomics era: A new species of Nearctic Cynipidae gall wasp and its genome |url=https://resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/syen.12521 |journal=Systematic Entomology |language=en |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=94–112 |doi=10.1111/syen.12521 |bibcode=2022SysEn..47...94B |s2cid=245838502 |issn=0307-6970|url-access=subscription }}{{cite web |title=Neuroterus Valhalla: Biologists Discover New Insect Species |url=https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/49043/20220125/neuroterus-valhalla-newly-discovered-insect-species.htm |website=Nature World News |date=25 January 2022 |access-date=28 October 2023}}
This species of gall wasp produces a chemical which in turn manipulates the host tree into providing for the wasp eggs. The tree does this by providing a protective layer around the eggs and nutrition for the larva.
{{Cite journal |last1=Brandão-Dias |first1=Pedro F. P. |last2=Zhang |first2=Yuanmeng Miles |last3=Pirro |first3=Stacy |last4=Vinson |first4=Camila C. |last5=Weinersmith |first5=Kelly L. |last6=Ward |first6=Anna K. G. |last7=Forbes |first7=Andrew A. |last8=Egan |first8=Scott P. |date=January 2022 |title=Describing biodiversity in the genomics era: A new species of Nearctic Cynipidae gall wasp and its genome |url=https://resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/syen.12521 |journal=Systematic Entomology |language=en |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=94–112 |doi=10.1111/syen.12521 |bibcode=2022SysEn..47...94B |s2cid=245838502 |issn=0307-6970|url-access=subscription }}{{cite web |title=Neuroterus Valhalla: Biologists Discover New Insect Species |url=https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/49043/20220125/neuroterus-valhalla-newly-discovered-insect-species.htm |website=Nature World News |date=25 January 2022 |access-date=28 October 2023}}