Zapatella davisae Buffington & Melika, n. sp.

Hosts: Quercus velutina

The first record of what is here described as a new species (previously identified as Callirhytis ceropteroides (Bassett) was recorded on Martha’s Vineyard in 2007.

Galled twigs can be slight to obvious. Pin-size exit holes made by emerging wasps are often present on galled twigs. Removing bark and outer wood from infested twigs exposes oval cells produced by the wasp, often containing adults, pupae, or larvae.

Biology.—Only the asexual twig-galling stage on black oak (Quercus velutina) is known for Z. davisae. Wasps emerge in May, following leaf expansion and their respective parasitoids emerge in early June. ... Gall cavity development starts in late July to early August. Larval development begins August, with pupal and adult development following suit. Z. davisae overwinters in multiple life stages, including larval, pupal, pharate adult and adult stages. From October to April, multiple life stages are simultaneously present in twigs. Thus far, there is no evidence of a sexual generation ...

Zapatella davisae was previously identified as Callirhytis ceropteroides and it has been implicated in damaging Quercus velutina in the past. ...

Range: NY, MA

- Matthew Buffington, George Melika, Monica Davis, Joseph Elkington: (2016) The description of Zapatella davisae, new species, (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) a pest gallwasp of Black Oak (Quercus velutina)^©