Amphibolips cibriani Pujade-Villar, 2018

[A photo of the gall appears on page 14 of the pdf]

[Gall (Figs. 2b-c). Unilocular resulting from the deformation of a bud. Spherical (2-4 cm in diameter), often ending in a point and weakly stalked. The surface is rough highlighting a large number of protuberances. At first light green, light brown at maturity. Hard consistency. In a Cross section shows the lignified central larval chamber (3 mm in diameter + 1 mm thick the wall of the inner gill) surrounded by dense spongy tissue.

Hosts. Quercus crassipes (section Lobatae).

Biology. Species known only from the agamic generation . The adults of this generation emerge in the middle of May.

Distribution. Only known from Santa Fe (City of Mexico).

Amphibolips cibriani n. sp.
Agamic female

[Photos of this gall appear on page 9 of the pdf]

[Galls: Monolocular grown from a deformation of a bud. Spherical (2-4 cm in diameter), often tapered and weakly stalked. The surface is rough, with large number of protruding bumps. At first from green to be brown clear at maturity. Hard consistency. Transverse cross sections show the lignified central larval chamber (3 mm diameter + 1 mm thick internal gall wall) surrounded by dense spongy tissue.]

Hosts: Quercus crassipes

Distribution: Mexico City

Biology. Species known only from the agamic generation. Adults emerge in mid-May. These galls are frequently attacked by inquilines that are found in the larval chamber, greatly increasing its size and dividing it into compartments (Fig. 4c). The inquiline species is Synergus striatifrons Pujade-Villar and Lobato-Vila; the host of the Synergus obtained from Amphibolips sp (MEX-299) mentioned in Lobato-Vila & Pujade-Villar (2017), corresponds to A. cibriani n. sp

Amphibolips cibriani

[Photos of this gall appear on page 39 of the pdf]

The gall also differs from all other known galls from Mexico and Central America (see below).

Gall. (Figs 14I–K) A subglobose bud gall, approximately 20 mm in diameter. Outer shell lignified and hard. Surface rugulose, uniformly light brown, with short apical tip and peduncle. The gall is monolocular, with a spongy internal tissue, filling the entire gall, with central rounded larval cell.

Host. Quercus crassipes.

Biology. Only females are known. The galls were collected in April; adults emerged in May.

Distribution. Mexico: Ciudad de México State