Aulacidea ambrosiaecola
Ragweed stem gall wasp

Host: Ragweed (Ambrosia sp.).

Gall location: On the stem.

Range: Missouri.

This species was described from adult wasps apparently reared from a gall on the stem of a ragweed plant. Nothing is known of the gall, as William Ashmead, who described this species, was sent only a handful of wasps by a friend, who only provided meager notes on their supposed biology, including a possible association with a moth. Nothing further is known of this species, and it has not been encountered since with the exception of a few unverifiable specimens from museum collections. If these museum records are considered correct, the ragweed stem gall wasp may induce cryptic galls rather than outwardly-perceptible galls.

Aulacidea ambrosiaecola (Ashmead, 1896)

Nomenclature: Aulax ambrosiaecola Ashmead, 1896

Feeds on: May induce galls on Ambrosia L. sp. but claim is unverified

Distribution: United States: Missouri

Aulacidea ambrosiaecola

"Issued Oct 18 and Jan 15." No galls were sent with the types to the US Natl Mus. From Kirkwood MO. No cynipid gall has since been found on this host plant.

Aulax ambrosiaecola, new species.

The insects from which the following description is drawn up were received from Miss Mary Murtfeldt, of Kirkwood, Missouri, with the statement that they were parasitic on a lepidopterous gallmaker, on Ambrosia.

Now there is some mistake here; the flies are unquestionably true gallmakers and evidently form larval cells in the pith of this plant, not observed by Miss Murtfeldt; and, moreover, their structural characters prove conclusively that they are not parasitic. It is also quite probable that the Lepidopteron is inquilinous in the galls produced by this species.

Four specimens, 1 female and 3 males, reared October 18, 1881, and June 13, 1882. It is unfortunate that none of the galls were sent with the flies.

Aulacidea ambrosisecola (Ashmead)

Aulax ambrosiceola ASHMEAD
Aulacidea ambrosicecola KIEFFER

Habitat: Missouri (Kirkwood).

Little is known regarding this species. The tvpes are in the United States National Museum. Dr. Ashmead states that the insects from which his description was made, were received from Miss Murtfeldt with the statement that they were parasitic on a lepidopterous gall-maker on Ambrosia. Mr. Ashmead believes that there is some mistake in this statement as the flies are unquestionably true gall-makers and evidently form larval cells in the pith of Ambrosia, not observed bv Miss Murtfeldt; and, moreover, their structural characters prove conclusively that they are not parasitic. It is also quite probable that the Lepidopteron is inquilinous in the galls produced by this species. I have seen the types and believe the species will ultimately prove to be nothing more than a variety of Aulacidea bicolor.