Amphibolips castroviejoi

Galls of A. castroviejoi are differ from all other known galls; they are large (on average 54 x 43 mm), irregularly spherical or globose, elongated at the base, with a thick peduncle, without apical tip, and with a smooth, mottled surface.

Gall. A globose bud gall, 45–58 mm in diameter, with short elongation at the base forming a thick peduncle. Light green and mottled when mature, turning light brown when dry. Outer shell thin, hard. Internal parenchyma soft and spongious. Central larval chamber with a hard shell, 5–6 mm in diameter. A picture of the gall is given in Medianero & Nieves-Aldrey (2010: Figs 8A–C).

Host. Quercus salicifolia.

Biology. Only the sexual generation is known. Galls were collected in January; adults emerged in February.

Distribution. Panama

Amphibolips castroviejoi Medianero & Nieves-Aldrey sp. nov.

(Figs. 1, 2, 7C, 7F & 8A–C)

Type Material

Holotype: ♀ (Fig. 7A) (in Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain (MNCN)),
card-mounted. Cat. nº 2022.

Locality: PANAMA, Chiriquí, Carretera de Volcancito, Boquete (8º 43' 23.07" N, 82º 27' 19.07" W),
1404 m; ex gall on twigs of Quercus salicifolia Née (Fagaceae).

Collection Date: Gall collected 28.i.2008, insect emerged ii.08, E. Medianero leg.

Paratypes:

• 1 ♂, same data as holotype.
• 1 ♀, 1 ♂, same data as holotype, but collected 12.i.2008, insect emerged i.08.

One paratype in MNCN, two paratypes in Maestría en Entomología, Universidad de Panamá (MEUP).
Additionally, 1 ♀ paratype of the type series was dissected for SEM observation (in MNCN).

Etymology

Named after Dr. Santiago Castroviejo, dear colleague and friend, a recently deceased eminent botanist
who worked for many years on the Flora of Coiba National Park (Panama).

Gall (Fig. 8A–C)

Irregularly spherical or globose, slightly elongated at its base, monothalamic, with a smooth and mottled surface.
Light green when fresh (Fig. 8A) and light cream when mature (Fig. 8B); the outer shell is thin but firm.
Internally, it has a soft, uniformly spongy consistency, filling the entire gall (Fig. 8C). The larval cell is rounded
and embedded in the soft internal substance.

Size: Diameter 58 to 45 mm (on average 54 × 43 mm).

Host Plant: Quercus salicifolia Née.

The gall most closely resembles that of Amphibolips murata Weld, 1957, known from Florida (USA).

Distribution

A. castroviejoi was found between 1000–2681 m a.s.l. in Chiriquí, Panama.

Biology

Only the sexual generation is known, inducing galls on Quercus salicifolia and likely on other
Quercus species (section Lobatae).

The galls are found between December and May, during the dry season in Panama.
The insects studied emerged in January and February.