Atrusca cava (Weld, 1926)

Figs 169–172

Synonymy
Diplolepis cava Weld, 1926: 22, female, gall.
Cynips (Atrusca) (dugesi) cava (Weld): Kinsey 1930: 293, female, gall.
Cynips (dugesi) cava (Weld): Kinsey 1936: 103, female, gall.
Atrusca cava (Weld): Weld 1951: 637.

Types examined

HOLOTYPE female Diplolepis cava “Austin, Tex., Dec. 4, 1917”, “Quercus breviloba”, “Diplolepis cava Weld” red label “Type No. 27189 U.S.N.M.”, deposited in USNM, examined by GM.

Gall (Fig. 172)

A bulboid gall, 14–20 mm in diameter, usually single on underside of leaf. Reddish-brown, not spotted, with thin walls, central cell supported by numerous silky fibers (gall pics from Weld, 1959).

Biology

The asexual generation is only known to induce leaf galls on Q. sinuata (= Q. breviloba). Galls mature in late autumn; adults emerge next year in spring.

Distribution

USA: Texas.

- 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)^©