Atrusca bella (Bassett, 1881)

Figs 47–74

Synonymy
Cynips bella Bassett, 1881: 93, female, gall.
Dryophanta bella: Mayr 1881: 36.
Andricus bella: Ashmead 1887: 127.
Holcaspis macullipennis Gillette, 1894: 236, female, gall. Synonym in Weld 1926: 18.
Disholcaspis bella (Bassett): Dalla Torre & Kieffer 1910: 356.
Disholcaspis macullipennis: Dalla Torre & Kieffer 1910: 375.
Cynips macullipennis: Felt 1918: 100.
Diplolepis bella: Weld 1926: 18.
Cynips (Atrusca) bella Bassett: Kinsey 1930: 285, female, gall.
Cynips bella variety bella Bassett: Kinsey 1930: 289.
Cynips bella variety vanescens Kinsey 1930: 292, female, gall, syn. nov.
Cynips (Atrusca) (bella) vanescens Kinsey 1936: 326.
Atrusca bella (Bassett): Weld 1951: 637.
Atrusca vanescens (Kinsey): Weld 1951: 638.

Types examined

The type of Cynips bella is deposited in the Entomology Type Collection at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia: “Type number: 10442. Cynips bella Bassett, 1811, female, Arizona”. The type was not examined by the authors.

Material examined

17 females “USA, Arizona, Chiricahua Mnts. western side, ex Q. arizonica, AZ8, gall type 37, leg. J.A. Nicholls 2007.10.25”; 2 females “USA, Arizona, Molino Basin campground, Santa Catalina Mnts., ex Q. oblongifolia, AZ2, AZ3, gall type 37, leg. J.A. Nicholls 2007.10.28”; 3 females “USA, Arizona, Chiricahua Mnts. summit, ex Q. arizonica, AZ5, gall type 37, leg. J.A. Nicholls 2007.10.26”; 1 female “USA, Arizona, Sonoita, ex Q. arizonica, AZ7, gall type 37, leg. J.A. Nicholls 2007.10.26”; 11 females “USA, Arizona, 5 km N of Payson, ex Q. turbinella, AZ11, gall type 37, leg. J.A. Nicholls 2007.10.29”; 26 females “USA, Arizona, 25 miles S of Flagstaff on I17, ex Q. turbinella, AZ9, AZ10, gall type 37, leg. J.A. Nicholls 2007.10.31”; 2 females “USA, Arizona, Sedona, ex Q. turbinella, AZ1, gall type 37, leg. J.A. Nicholls 2007.10.29”. Two non-paratype females “Prescott, Ariz, female 11.27.35, gall 11.15.35”, “Q. gambelii E.R Leach coll.”, “Cynips vanescens Kinsey det. 35”.

Gall (Figs 60, 74)

Large spherical galls on the underside of leaves, with a suspended inner cell, to 3.0 cm in diameter, yellow with red speckles when young, uniformly red-brown when mature.

Biology

The asexual generation is only known. Leaf galls on Q. arizonica, Q. grisea, Q. oblongifolia, Q. rugosa (= Q. reticulata), Q. toumeyi, Q. turbinella. Galls mature in late autumn; adults emerge from January next year.

Distribution

USA: CO, AZ, NM

- 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)^©