Neuroterus aliceae Melika, Nicholls & Stone, sp. nov.
Sexual generation

Diagnosis. The sexual generation of N. aliceae induces catkin galls on Q. oblongifolia. The only known Neuroterus species from the US southwest which induces flower galls (also on white oaks) is N. floricomus Weld, 1957, sexual generation. The galls of N. floricomus are dense wooly enlargements of the catkin axis (Weld 1957b) and are clearly different from those of N. aliceae (Fig. 366).

Gall. (Fig. 366). A whitish swelling surrounding individual flowers, with sparse very short pubescence. A swollen flower is 1–2 mm in diameter; multiple flowers per catkin are galled.

Biology. Alternate asexual and sexual generations are known, both of which induce galls on Q. oblongifolia. Sexual catkin galls mature in April, adults emerge soon afterwards. The asexual fluffy leaf galls mature in October- November; adults overwinter in the galls and emerge the following spring. Distribution. USA, Arizona, Santa Catalina Mountains

- George Melika, James Nicholls, Warren Abrahamson, Eileen Buss, Graham Stone: (2021) New species of Nearctic oak gall wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae, Cynipini)^©