Cynips q singularis n. sp.
Gall on the leaves of Quercus rubra.
These galls answer to Dr. Fitch’s description of the gall that is produced by C. q. nubilipennis, so far as this:—They are ‘‘globular, growing through the leafy expansion of the red oak a third of the sphere projecting from the upper surface of the leaf; the remainder opposite on the under side.”
My specimens are not, however, as large as a medium sized “grape or hazelnut,” and the gall-fly produced from them differs, materially, from that he described.
They are smooth, thin, varying in diameter from 0.25 to 0.40 of an inch; each with an oblong cell in the centre, which is held in place by radiating fibres. There is seldom more than one on a leaf, though two and even three are occasionally met with. They reached their full development with the leaf, and the perfect insect came out about the 10th of July.
Cynips q. Osten Sackenii n. s.p
Quercus ilicifolia, and Q. coccinea.
I have galls from these two species of oak that are probably indentical with a species from Q. coccinea, described by Baron Osten Sacken (Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil, i, p. 256.) as follows:
‘‘Round., somewhat oblong., hollow, pale greenish-yellow gall on the under side of the leaf, slightly projecting on the opposite side; internally an oblong kernel, kept in its position by filaments, radiating to wards the shell.'’
His specimens produced only parasites, and the gall-flies I have are all, except two or three, from the galls from Q. ilicifolia. Both the gall and fly bear a rather close resemblance to the species last described, though the differences are so marked as to entitle them to the rank of a distinct species. Though measuring nearly as much in length they are much smaller. I take pleasure in giving to this species the name of its discoverer, who has added so much to our knowledge of this interesting genus.
