Bassettia caulicola (agamic)

Bassettia caulicola Medianero & Nieves-Aldrey sp. nov.(Figs. 1, 2 & 3)

GALL (Figs. 3C & D). Stem galls develop under the bark of twigs of Q. bumelioides in the form of elongated larval cells that usually do not cause swellings (Fig. 3D). The only evidence of galling is the presence of typical adult emergence holes (Fig.3C). The galls containing fully developed adults are found in December, at the beginning of the dry sea-son in Panama. The studied insects emerged in January. 

ETYMOLOGY. Named after the stem cryptic gall of this species.

DISTRIBUTION. Based on our data, B. caulicolais found between 2870-3100 m at Chiriqui, Panama, around the upper limit of growth of Quercus species in Panama. 

BIOLOGY. Only the asexual generation is known, inducing galls on Quercus bumelioides Liebm. (=Q. copeyensis)

Description of the first Neotropical species of Bassettia Ashmead, 1887 (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae, Cynipini) from Panama