Neuroterus minutissimus

Quercus virginiana, geminata
Leaf galls, integral
Small, 1.25-2.5 mm, covered with coarse, brown mossy pubescence, on under side in numbers in the fall.

[Photo caption (no photo)]
On Q virginiana, geminata. In numbers on under side of leaf, pubescent, the size of a pinhead.

Neuroterus quercusminutissimus (Ashmead)

Cynips q. minutissima Ashmead 1885a: 7.
Neuroterus minutissimus: Ashmead 1885b: 296.
Neuroterus (Diplobius) verrucarum var. minutissimus: Kinsey 1923: 72.

Distribution.-Florida. Common everywhere Quercus geminata, Q. minima, and or Q. virginiana grows.

Biology.--Only the unisexual generation is known. This species induces small, 1.25-2.50 mm, detachable galls, covered with coarse, light brown mossy pubescence, on the underside of leaves in numbers in the fall on Quercus geminata, Q. virginiana, and Q. minima. In Florida, adults emerge early in the spring, but the galls do not develop until mid- to late summer. The fully grown adults overwinter in the galls

Neuroterus minutissimus

The writer has collected galls in Florida at Jacksonville, Daytona, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Ocala, but has never reared adults which are said to emerge in spring. The Pergande collection had galls from St. George also.

Neuroterus verrucarum variety minutissimus

GALL. — Similar to the galls of the other varieties; of moderate size, the papilla swelling on the upper surface almost entirely absent (due to the thickness of the evergreen leaf?). On Quercus virginiana.

RANGE. — Florida: Jacksonville (Ashmead) ; Lady Lake, Tavares, Bowling Green, Fort Meyers. Probably confined to the most southeastern part of the United States.

I have not seen types, but I have insects and galls deter- mined as this species by Ashmead, and insects I collected at Tavares, Florida. It may be that more than one variety is represented by the other localities I have listed. In the material I have seen the antenna has 13 segments, not 14 as Ashmead stated, and the areolet is not obliterated as originally described but is small and bounded in part by a very faint vein. The insect is distinguished from restrictus by its smaller size, the large amount of yellow on the legs including the coxae, and the smaller areolet.

Neuroterus quercusminutissimus (Ashmead 1885)

Hosts: Quercus geminata, minima

[Asexual generation detachable leaf galls found in the fall.]