Bassettia floridana Ashmead

This species was described from four females captured at large in Florida. In cutting open galls of Compsodryoxenus humilis Weld (p. 236) some specimens were found with much longer larval cells than is characteristic of that species, and the flies ran to the genus Bassettia. They agree very well with the two types of B. floridana Ashmead in the United States National Museum (one pinned and one in balsam), except that in these fresh specimens the abdomen is longer than head and thorax together, while in the dry pinned type it equals thorax. The eight fresh flies measure 2.75-2.95 mm. The type floridana measures 2.6 mm. As the original description of floridana was brief, some further notes from the type specimens are here added and the associated gall described for the first time.

Host. — Quercus chapmani Sargent.

Gall. — Spindle-shaped enlargements at base of current year's shoots occurring in patches of runner oak in fall. (Plate 34, fig, 25.) In external appearance they can not be separated from galls of Compsodryoxenus humilis Weld, but the larval cells are ellipsoidal, 3.25 mm. long by 1.25 mm. in diameter, tying lengthwise just under the bark.

Habitat.— Ocala, Florida. Galls collected October 30, 1919. When cut open February 23, 1920, pupae and four transformed flies were found.

Bassettia floridana

Quercus chapmani
"Root" galls
Cells elongated and nested at the base of slightly swollen shoot of current year's growth in the fall.

Quercus stellata
"Root" galls
Cells over twice as long as broad nested at base of slightly swollen shoots of current year's growth in fall.

[Photo caption (no photo)]
Q chapmani. Also on Q stellata. Cells are nested at base of current year's growth in fall. Cells are 3.25 mm long by 1.25 mm wide. A gall cut open Feb 23 contained both pupae and adults.

Bassettia floridana Ashmead, 1887

Bassettia floridana Ashmead 1887
Dryophanta corrugis Bassett 1890 (synonymy)

Biology -- Only the asexual generation is known which induces galls at the base of the current year's growth on Q chapmanii. Also observed to oviposit into the buds of Q prinoides. Galls mature in October and adults emerge in March-April.

Distribution: CT, FL

Bassettia floridana (Ashmead 1887)

Hosts: Quercus chapmanii

[Asexual generation stem swelling gall found in Florida in the fall.]