Neuroterus dubia, n. sp.

This species was found in a box of galls of A. prionosus, but no galls appear from which they seem to have come. Both sexes.

Neuroterus (Dolichostrophus) dubius

GALL. — A small, egg-shaped capsule; monothalamous, thin-walled, entirely hollow, 2.0-3. 0 mm. long by 1.0 mm. in diameter, pointed at one end, drying light yellowish brown, scatteringly set with short wool. On the edge of the leaf or on the aments of white oaks (figs. 53, 54).

RANGE. — Massachusetts to California. Probably thruout North America, wherever white oaks occur.

All of the known varieties are bisexual, in spring galls, the insects emerging not very late in the spring. The galls of only a single form are known, the other insects having curiously turned up in collections of galls of other Cynipidae. Probably the galls of all varieties are so small and simple as to be overlooked in collecting.

Neuroterus dubius variety digressus

GALL. — Not known. On Quercus lobata.

RANGE. — California: Coalinga. Probably occurs thruout the range of Q. lobata in Central California.

The type material was found among a lot of insects from ament galls of Neuroterus pacificus, and the galls of digressus were not identified, probably because they are small, simple cells in the aments, in the accompanying buds, or on the young leaves. The insects emerged sometime before the end of March in 1920. Altho geographically distant from the range of variety dubius, there is no doubt that digressus belongs to the same species.

Neuroterus dubius variety dubius

GALL. — Not known. Probably similar to those described for the species. Apparently on Q. stellata.

RANGE. — Connecticut: Waterbury. Probably confined to a more northeastern portion of the United States.

The above descriptions are made from a paratype female and a paratype male. This insect was obtained by Bassett from a box of galls of Andricus pruinosus, and he did not find galls which might have been made by the Neuroterus. Pruinosus comes from Quercus stellata, and probably dubius has the same host.