Andricus archboldi Melika & Abrahamson, sp. nov.
Sexual generation

Diagnosis. No other gallers on Q. inopina and other red oaks in Florida induce a similar rounded, integral leaf gall, which is always pale yellow-green (in contrast to the darker green of the leaf) and located on the midrib. The sexual generation gall of Callirhytis quercuspunctata (Bassett, 1863) is similar but occurs on red oak species distributed further north.

Gall (Fig. 29). Integral leaf galls, always on the midrib, ovoid 4–6 mm in diameter and protruding on both sides of the leaf lamina; pale yellow and contrasting with the darker green of the leaf. Usually one larva per gall, rarely two larvae.

Biology. Both generations have been found exclusively on Lake Wales Ridge in Florida, on an endemic oak, Q. inopina. Final instar larvae overwinter in the galls and pupate in March. Asexual females begin to emerge in early April and are fly actively throughout the month, laying eggs that result in integral leaf galls also on Q. inopina. These sexual generation leaf galls grow through the autumn and mature in November. Adults of the sexual generation emerge in December.

Distribution. USA, Florida only, Highlands Co., Lake Wales Ridge endemic; quite common at the Archbold Biological Station, Lake Placid.

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