Peracecis fugitiva Gagne, new species

Hosts: Celtis laevigata, occidentalis, tenuifolia

Gall.--On leaf, an integral spherical blister usually of the leaf underside, and a narrow chimney on the opposite surface through which the full grown larvae eventually exit; green, the same color as the leaf, matte, with short white pile on the blister side, bare on the other; blister 4–7 mm in diameter, 3–4 mm high, the chimney on opposite side of leaf ca. 2 mm long; gall thin-walled, no thicker than normal leaf tissue.

Biological notes.--Galls appear early in spring and were first noticed on April 16 in Alexandria, Louisiana and on April 7 in Holland, Texas when the larvae were already in their third instar. On May 3 to 9 in Alexandria larvae appeared fullgrown, and by May 19 most had dropped to the soil. In Bibb County, Georgia a few larvae were recovered from galls collected on June 3. Galls are integral to the leaves so their shrivelled remains can be found throughout the season where they occur. Third instars are white, spindle-form and very active. As many as 15 larvae may be found in one gall. Peracecis larvae were observed crawling out of the galls through the chimney on the upper leaf surface.

Distribution (Map 22). — This mainly southern species does not appear to distinguish among hackberries.

GA, KS, LA, TX