Amphibolips durangensis sp. nov. [both durangensis and duraguensis appear in the description]

[Photos of this gall appear on page 36 of the pdf]

Gall (Figs.18C, 18D). A spindle-shaped gall with an elongated and narrow tip and base. Longitudinally, the surface of the gall is crossed by longitudinal ridges. The gall is monothalamic; the outer shell is thin but firm; internally, it has a spongy consistency, filling the entire gall (Fig. 18D). The larval cell is rounded and is embedded in the soft internal substance. Diameter of 54 x 43 mm on average). Forms on twigs of Quercus scytophylla. The gall closely resembles that of Amphibolips fusus Kinsey 1937, also described from Mexico, and was illustrated recently by Melike et al. (2012). However, the gall of A. duranguensis differs from the gall of A. fusus due to its much more elongated and narrow points, both at the tip and at base. Another difference is the gall surface, which is smooth in the gall of A. fusus, without longitudinal ridges.

Distribution. A. duranguensis was found at 1900 m a.s.l. in Durango state, Mexico.

Biology. Only females of the presumably sexual generation are known. The galls were collected in July, and the insects emerged in October.

- Jose Luis Nieves-Aldrey, E Pascual, Y Maldonado-Lopez, E Medianero, K Oyama: (2012) Revision of the Amphibolips species of Mexico excluding the “niger complex” Kinsey (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), with description of seven new species^©