Atrusca aequalis (Kinsey, 1936)

Figs 1–14

Synonymy
Cynips (bulboides) aequalis Kinsey, 1936: 151 — female, gall
Atrusca aequalis (Kinsey): Weld 1952: 313

Types Examined

HOLOTYPE:

• Female, Cynips aequalis (bulboides)
• “Inde 20E Dgo 6300’, Mex. Gall 11.1.31, 70 fms. 2.8.32”
• “Q. chihuahuens, Kinsey coll.”
• Red label: “Cynips aequalis, Holo- Paratype”
• Deposited in AMNH, NYC
• Examined by GM

PARATYPES:

• Five females
• “Inde 20E, Dgo 6300’, Mex., galls 11.1.31. 70 females 2.8.32”
• “Quercus chihuahuensis, Kinsey coll.”
• Red label: “Cynips equalis. Paratype”
• Deposited in general collection, AMNH, NYC
• Examined by GM

Gall (Fig. 14)

The gall is similar to all galls of Kinsey’s bella and dugesi complexes. The spherical gall is indistinguishable from A. pomifera and A. aspera.

• Color: Mature galls are light straw yellow, somites touched with rose or brown, always conspicuously mottled with purplish brown
• Size: Up to 15 mm, typically around 10 mm in diameter

Biology

The asexual generation is only known to induce leaf galls on Quercus chihuahuensis and Q. undata.

• Galls mature in late autumn
• Adults emerge in January–February of the following year

Distribution

Mexico: Chihuahua

- VICTOR CUESTA-PORTA, GEORGE MELIKA, MAR FERRER-SUAY, ALEXIS VERA-ORTIZ, JULI PUJADE-VILLAR: (2025) Review of the Nearctic and Neotropical genus Atrusca Kinsey, 1930 (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae, Cynipini)^©