Asphondylia autumnalis sp. nov.

Gall.--Globular or irregularly rounded with a number of aborted leaves at the apex, and elations of the stems of the plant at the sides. It is green outside and white inside. Interior rather soft, pithy and somewhat succulent, causing the gall to shrivel up and decay after the flies have emerged. Inside are a number of cells in which the larvae live. These transform in the gall and the flies emerge during the latter part of August and early in September. The gall measures from 20 to 30 mm in length and from 15 to 30 mm in width. It occurs on Helenium autumnale.

Habitat.--Valley of the Black Mountains, NC

Swollen, globular, leafy, apical bud gall...Asphondylia autumnalis Beutenmüller

Galls are green, succulent, polythalamous, and variable in shape and size. Adults emerge from the galls in late summer, so the species probably overwinters in another gall in the crown of the plant. Host: H. autumnale. Distr.: North Carolina and Missouri.