Cynips plumbeum

Cynips plumbea

Cynipidae

Antron

Quercus arizonica

Arizona

New Mexico

Texas

Quercus oblongifolia

Quercus toumeyi

Cynipid galls of the southwest

Field notes on gall-inhabiting cynipid wasps with descriptions of new species

The Gall Wasp Genus Cynips

Antron plumbeum (agamic)

Cynips plumbea, new species

Hosts: Quercus oblongifolia, arizonica

Gall (fig. 12). — Globular, 8-11 mm. in diameter, produced singly in the fall on the under side of leaf saddled on midrib. Lead color when fresh with a whitish bloom that easily rubs off and leaves a shining surface. Green or rosy on one side when growing, tan-colored when old. Monothalamous, the larval cavity surrounded by a wall about one-third the diameter of gall thick.

Range: AZ

Cynips (Philonix) plumbea
agamic form

GALL. — Spherical, thin-walled, brownish, naked, the centrally- placed larval cell imbedded in spongy or more compact tissue. Monothalamous; up to 11.0 mm., averaging nearer 8.0 mm. in diameter. Strictly spherical except for the broadly flattened base; not at all shrivelled when old; the gall greenish or rose-tinged when young, becoming lead color with a bluish gray bloom that is easily wiped off and largely wears off the older galls, exposing the brownish tan color of the older galls; the surface all but microscopically smooth and naked except for the deciduous bloom. The outer wall of the gall moderately thin but firm because it is inseparable from the rest of the gall; the gall internally more or less compact-crystalline, in some cases indicating a more fibrous structure, the larval cell central, closely embedded and entirely inseparable from the compact material of the gall. Attached by a fine point, singly on the main veins, usually underneath the leaves, on Quercus oblongifolia and Q. arizonica (and related southwestern oaks?). Figures 200, 225-226. 

RANGE. — Arizona: Globe (var.? galls, Q. arizonica, Kinsey coll.). Whetstone (galls, Q. arizonica, Kinsey coll.). Oracle (Q. arizonica, Weld and Kinsey coll.). Santa Catalina Mountains (M. Chrisman acc. Weld 1926). Esperara Canyon in Santa Catalina Mountains (types; Q. oblongifolia; Hofer and Edmonston coll.). Sabino Trail in Santa Catalina Mountains ( Q . oblongifolia, Q. arizonica; Kinsey coll.). Santa Rita Mountains ( Q . oblongifolia, Weld and Kinsey coll.). Fort Hua- chuca ( Q . arizonica, Kinsey coll.; gall, acc. Weld 1926). Courtland ( Q . arizonica, Kinsey coll.). Chiricahua Mountains ( Q . arizonica, acc. Weld 1926). Nogales, Patagonia Mountains, and Tumacacori Mountains (galls, acc. Weld 1926). This variety probably restricted to more southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, altho related varieties may be expected elsewhere in the Southwest and in Mexico. Figure 36. 

The gall of this species is not uncommon in the mountains of southern Arizona, altho we have nowhere seen it as abundant as fulvicollis is in the East. The species occurs on both Q. oblongifolia and Q. arizoniea thruout the forested elevations below six or seven thousand feet, and the insects agree with many other Cynipidae in showing no appreciable variation on these two oaks. The galls of plumbea seem more firmly attached to the leaves than the galls of the easily deciduous fulvicollis. Plumbea galls probably begin development at some time in June. Weld found pupae in some galls on December 7 (1921), but a mature adult in another gall as early as November 24. This adult, when cut from the gall, lived in a pill box until January 1, just as it would have lived for some time as an adult before emerging from the gall. In this delayed emergence plumbea is in accord with the other species of Cynips . As dates of emergence of the adult, Weld records November 22, December 14 and 30, January 8, 12, 13, 24, and 25, and February 3, 4, and 6. I bred insects on January 6, on other dates in the first half of January? and at some date (unrecorded) after January 16 (gall in 1920). By analogy with Cynips fulvicollis of the present subgenus, the bisexual form of plumbea may be expected in a small, seed-like gall occurring in the buds of the oaks early in the spring. 

Cynips (plumbea) plumbea Weld
agamic form

Cynips plumbea Weld, 1926, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 68 (10):64, fig. 12. Metcalf and Flint, 1932, Fundamentals of Ins. Life: fig. 223. Houard 1935, Marcellia 28:101.
Cynips (Philonix) plumbea Kinsey, 1930, Ind. Univ. Studies 84-86:245–248, figs. 36, 200, 225-226, 235-236, 246.

GALL.-Large, hemispherical, with a broadly flattened base; surface smooth and shining, shriveling; bluish gray scurf easily wiped off, exposing the dark tan to purple brown color of the older gall; up to 11.0 mm., averag ing 8.0 mm. in diameter. Figures 103, 109. 

HOSTS.—Quercus oblongifolia, Q. arizonica. 

RANGE.-Arizona: Globe. Whetstone. Oracle. Santa Catalina Mts. Santa Rita Mts. Fort Huachuca. Courtland. Chiricahua Mts. Nogales. Patagonia Mts. Tumacacori Mts. Data in more detail in Kimsey 1930:245. Apparently restricted to Southeastern Arizona (and to immediately adjacent portions of New Mexico?). Figure 102

LIFE HISTORY.—Pupae: December 7. Adults: November 22. December 14, 30. January 6, 8, 12, 13, 24, 25. February 3, 4, 6. (See Kinsey 1930:247). Most of the emergence early in January.

This is the only species of the complex that occurs within the United States. It is apparently confined to the island mountains of Southeastern Arizona (and immediately adjacent New Mexico?). We have no data further than those published in our 1930 monograph, but include the present descriptions in order to make comparisons with the several, newly described species of the complex. The insect is closest to, and the gall is identical with, that of C. subfusca from Northern Chihuahua. The insects of plumbea. are not quite as rich and dark a brownish rufous, and average a bit larger. Plumbea insects are also close to C. euconus, from Durango, but euconus is unique in the complex in having conical galls with circular bases. 

Origin of higher categories in Cynips

Antron plumbeum

Quercus arizonica, oblongifolia, toumeyi
Leaf galls 
Detachable 
Fig 80.

Cynips plumbeum
Peach-gall wasp
[Page 195]

Hosts: Quercus oblongifolia

The dense but thin covering of short hairs does not rub off easily.