Zapatella abrahamsoni Melika, sp. nov.

Gall. (Fig. 445). The galls are rounded, irregular woody expansions of lateral buds, 5.0–7.5 mm in diameter, 4–6 mm high. The tissue of the gall is hard, typically with 2–4 larval cells (very rarely only one) embedded in the surrounding woody tissues. The walls of the larval chambers are distinct, slightly paler than the surrounding woody tissue. The galls persist on the trees for years

Biology. Only an asexual generation is known, which induces galls on Q. inopina, an oak species endemic to the Lake Wales Ridge. The galls become visible in late September and develop through November. The larvae (sometimes pupae) overwinter in the galls. Adult wasps were dissected from galls from the end of January through March; emerge in late April-May.

Distribution. USA, Florida, Highlands Co., Lake Placid, Archbold Biological Station. This species is likely endemic to south-central Florida and particularly to the Lake Wales Ridge.

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