Neuroterus elvisi (sexgen)

Neuroterus pulchrigalla (agamic)

Neuroterus glandiphilus

Neuroterus q-lancifolia-midrib-capsule

Neuroterus q-bumelioides-twig-gall

Neuroterus q-lancifolia-catkin-gall

Neuroterus q-bumelioides-solitary-gall

Neuroterus q-bumelioides-bead-gall

Neuroterus q-bumelioides-tuber-gall

Neuroterus quercicola (pacificus) (agamic)

Neuroterus elvisi Medianero & Nieves-Aldrey sp. n. (Figs. 1, 2 & 7C-F)
 
Gall (Figs. 8F-H). Small, irregular swellings of the leaves, with  smooth  and  bare  surface.  Polythalamous, developing  in petiole  and  midrib  and  engulfing leaf lamina. The galls are light green when fresh but dark green when mature  and  brown  when  old.  Diameter  10  to  18  mm.  Galls are relatively common on Quercus bumelioides at the Volcán Barú site. The gall most closely resembles that of Neuroterus junctor from Mexico.

Distribution. N. elvisi was found at 1,800 m above sea level at Volcán Barú, Chiriquí Province, Panama.

Etymology. Named after Elvis Segundo for his help in  field  work  and  oak  gall  wasps  samplings  in  the  mountains of Panama.

Biology. Sexual generation. Galls formed in the leaves of Q. bumelioides mature in May and insects emerge soon thereafter in the same month.

Neuroterus pulchrigalla Medianero & Nieves-Aldrey sp. n.(Figs. 3, 4 & 7A-B)

Gall (Figs. 8A-E). Galls have a cylindrical shape, measuring 5 x 2 mm. the gall surface is covered with long dense yellowish hairs. Internally, two parts are visible; an ovoid larval cell at the attachment of the gall on the leaf and an apical empty part (Fig. 8D). The galls grow isolated or more frequently grow in close clusters formed by 2-10 galls on the midrib of Quercus bumelioides leaves (Figs. 8A-C). The galls are yellow when fresh, orange when mature and brown when old. Galls are relatively abundant on Quercus bumelioides at the Volcán Barú site in Panama.

Distribution. Neuroterus pulchrigalla was found between 1,431-1,800 m above sea level at Volcán Barú and El Salto, Chiriquí Province, Panama. We have found galls of this species in the same type locality type as the other new species described in this paper from Panama.

Etymology. Named after the pretty, brilliantly colored leaf galls induced by this species.

Biology. Only the asexual generation of Neuroterus pulchrigalla is known, inducing galls on Q. bumelioides leaves. The galls are found between January and March, during the dry season, when new Q. bumelioides leaves begin to mature. The adult insects emerge from mature galls in February or May.

Neuroterus glandiphilus Nieves-Aldrey & Medianero sp. n. 
(Figs. 5, 6, 7G-H & 9)

Distribution: Costa Rica

Gall (Figs. 9C-F). The galls develop inside acorns. They form a cluster of aggregated and joined chambers within the cotyledons and wall of the acorn. Individual galls consist of an oval larval cell surrounded by tissue that is pointed at the apex. Individual galls are grouped radially, appearing as orange segments. Affected acorns do not develop normally and remain stunted inside the acorn cup. Mature galls have woody, hard walls. The galled acorns measure 7 to 14 mm.

Etymology. Named after the acorn gall induced by this species

(A) Gall on midrib of a leaf of Quercus lancifolia from Renacimiento. 

(B) Twig gall showing larvae on Quercus bumelioides from Volcán Barú.

(C) Catkin gall on Quercus lancifolia from Volcán Barú.

(D) Solitary gall under leaf of Quercus bumelioides from Volcán Barú.

(E) Galls on leaf of Q. bumelioides from Volcán Barú

(F) Leaf gall on Quercus bumelioides from Volcán Barú.

Neuroterus quercicola var pacificus

We know of only one species of Neuroterus in the American continent galling acorns, Neuroterus cupulae Kinsey, 1922, later considered an asexual generation synonym of Neuroterus quercicola var. pacificus Kinsey (Kinsey, 1923; Weld, 1952), a species distributed in California.  

Primera Cita Del Género Neuroterus Hartig (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae, Cynipini) Para América Central, Con Descripción de Tres Especies Nuevas de Panamá Y Costa Rica