Heteroecus melanoderma, new species

Andricus dasydactyli (gall only!)

Elongate, scurfy, like a date seed in shape. Cylindrical, averaging 6. mm. wide by 20. mm. long, bluntly, short, and conically pointed apically, slightly tapered basally, broadest near the apex; covered with a dense, very short, scurfy pubescence, rich golden brown, weathering dull brown to black. Monothalamous. Internally with a single, cylindrical, central cavity 2. mm. wide extending from the base almost to the tip of the gall; a larval cell, 1.7x3.5 mm., lies in the cavity, usually nearer the apical end.

Sessile, on twigs of Quercus chrysolepis.

RANGE. — California: Cupertino (Fullaway) ; Los Gatos (Mc- Cracken coll.) ; Redwood Park (in Stanford Univ. coll.) ; Boulder Creek, Placerville.

Adults were almost mature in the galls at Placerville, March 30, and emerged some time later.

Material of this species in several museums is labelled Andricus dasydactyli, and this gall largely agrees with the gall described for that species by Ashmead. But the insect dasydactyli comes from galls covered with long wool, and is very distinct from melanoderma adults ; the latter species has been heretofore undescribed. Weld sends me galls from the Santa Catalina Mountains of Arizona, occurring on Quercus ohlongifolia; the galls are similar to those of melanoderma, but I have not yet seen the insects.

Heteroecus melanoderma

Quercus chrysolepis, vacciniifolia
Stem galls
Covered with short yellow fuzz.

Fig.85. Q. chrysolepis • Occurs on Quercus vaccinifolia also. Adults emerged April 20, 21, 28 and May 1 (California Redwood Park).

Heteroecus melanoderma

Quercus wilcoxii [chrysolepis]
Stem galls
Detachable
"Date seed" gall. Covered with short dense tawny wool.

Heteroecus melanoderma

This cynipid wasp induces tubular, detachable, monothalamous, woolly bud galls on canyon live and huckleberry oaks in summer.

Hosts:
Quercus chrysolepis
Quercus vacciniifolia