Andricus breviramuli (agamic)

Andricus breviramuli, n. sp.

[Photos of this gall appear on page 6 of the pdf]

Gall  (Figs.  3-4).Galls  in  the  terminal  part  of  twigs.    Immature  galls  green,  with  a  smooth,  slightly  shiny  surface.    Mature  galls  club-shaped,  green  to  brown,  with wrinkled surface, polythalamous, 6 to 10 cm long, with an average length of 4.8 cm  (n  =  30).    Basal  part  narrow  (7.6  mm  diameter)  while  the  distal  part  is  broader  (9.2  mm  in  diameter),  the  final  third  of  the  twig  swelling  sometimes  to  14  mm  in  diameter.  Internal tissues of mature gall are hard and woody.  Larval chambers are oval (1 mm long x 2 mm wide) and 4 to 20 per gall aligned along the main axis of the twig.

Host Quercus laeta Liebm. (section Quercus of Quercus). 

Distribution.  México (Santa Fe, Delegación Cuajimalpa, DF, México City).  


Biology.  Only the asexual females are known.  Adults emerge in late winter and early spring, when new shoots are starting to grow.  

Etymology.  Related to damage to host branches. 

Andricus breviramuli Pujade-Villar n. sp. (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini): New Pest of Oaks in Mexico