Andricus breviramuli, n. sp.

[Photos of this gall appear on page 6 of the pdf]

Gall (Figs. 3-4).Galls in the terminal part of twigs. Immature galls green, with a smooth, slightly shiny surface. Mature galls club-shaped, green to brown, with wrinkled surface, polythalamous, 6 to 10 cm long, with an average length of 4.8 cm (n = 30). Basal part narrow (7.6 mm diameter) while the distal part is broader (9.2 mm in diameter), the final third of the twig swelling sometimes to 14 mm in diameter. Internal tissues of mature gall are hard and woody. Larval chambers are oval (1 mm long x 2 mm wide) and 4 to 20 per gall aligned along the main axis of the twig.

Host Quercus laeta Liebm. (section Quercus of Quercus).

Distribution. México (Santa Fe, Delegación Cuajimalpa, DF, México City).

Biology. Only the asexual females are known. Adults emerge in late winter and early spring, when new shoots are starting to grow.

Etymology. Related to damage to host branches.

- J. Pujade-Villar, D. Cibrián-Tovar, U. M. Barrera-Ruíz, G. Melika : (2014) Andricus breviramuli Pujade-Villar n. sp. (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini): New Pest of Oaks in Mexico^©