Andricus torreyaensis Melika & Abrahamson, sp. nov.

Diagnosis. The gall resembles that of Zapatella quercusmedullae (Ashmead, 1885), but the morphology of adults is very different from that of Zapatella species. This species was also compared with species of the newly erected genus Melikaiella, and again the morphology of adults differs from that of Melikaiella species. Three Callirhytis species, C. quercusscitula (Bassett, 1864), sexual generation only; C. seminosa (Bassett, 1890), asexual generation only; C. quercuspunctata (Bassett, 1863), asexual generation only are known to induce similar stem swelling galls, however all three species are found further north and are unknown in Florida.

Gall. (Figs. 252–255). A shoot swelling just behind the bud. The galls are multilocular, usually terminal, cylindrical swellings, 5– 9 mm in diameter and 10–22 mm in length, hard and woody when mature. The leaf buds on the gall can continue to grow after the gall has begun to develop, and ultimately cover the gall with leaves. Usually two to three neighboring twigs or buds are attacked, creating small clusters of two or three, sometimes four galls. The shape of the swelling differs slightly on different oak hosts.

Biology. Only a sexual generation is known, which induces stem swelling galls on Q. incana, Q. inopina, Q. laevis, Q. laurifolia, Q. myrtifolia, and Q. nigra. Galls mature in April-May, and adults emerge soon afterwards.

Distribution. USA, Florida: Torreya State Park, Archbold Biological Station, Jacksonville, Lake Manatee State Park.

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