Neuroterus varians, new species

Galls (Pl. XXIV, Figs. 17, 18). —Short, blunt, irregular stem swellings. Polythalamous. Distorted lateral stems, 5-12. mm in diameter, 6-35 mm. long, very rough, covered with bark of natural color; very irregular in shape; involving distorted buds, petioles or leaves. Internally the larval cells are closely compacted, located mostly at the periphery; cells oval, averaging 1.5 by 0.8 mm., but varying in size; cells with a distinct, shell-like lining which is not, however, separable. On Quercus lobata.

Range: —California: Byron.

This species shows a considerable variation in the size of the adults,the color of the legs, and the size of the areolet. All of the material, which gave almost eight hundred adults, was collected from a single tree; the smaller individuals appear structurally and almost entirely in regard to color indentical with the largest individuals, and what differences do exist show all the intermediate stages in still other individuals. So I have no doubt that these variations are all within a single species, but to avoid any chance of confusion I have sorted out a series of the largest individuals as paratypes.

Adults emerged March 21, a couple of days after collecting the galls.

- Alfred Charles Kinsey: (1922) New Pacific Coast Cynipidae (Hymenoptera)^©