Prokius cambrai (sexgen)

Prokius lisethiae (sexgen)

Prokius cambrai Nieves-Aldrey & Medianero n. sp.

Host plant. Quercus bumelioides Liebm. (Fagaceae, Quercus sect. Quercus).


Gall (Figs. 6A-C). Galls are irregularly cylindrical with a smooth surface, measuring 5 × 2 mm, with a single internal larval chamber. Galls develop singly or more frequently in close clusters of 2‒5 galls, on the upper side of the leaf blade; the presence of a gall is indicated on the lower side of the leaf by a circular impression (Fig. 6C). The galls are green to red when fresh (Fig. 6A) and black when mature. Galls are relatively abundant on the host plant at Volcán Barú in Panama. 

Distribution. Prokius cambrai sp. nov. was found between 1,440 – 2,070 m a.s.l. at Volcán Barú, Chiriqui, Panama.

Biology. Only the sexual generation is known, inducing galls on Quercus bumelioides. Freshly growing galls are present on new leaves in November during the rainy season. Adult insects emerge in May

Prokius lisethiae Medianero & Nieves-Aldrey n. sp.

Host plant. Quercus bumelioides Liebm (Fagaceae, Quercus section Quercus).

Gall (Figs. 6D-E). Galls have a spherical to lenticular shape with a smooth surface. They grow on the edge of the leaf blade, deforming the new leaf, measuring 5 × 2 mm. Galls typically grow in close clusters of 2–20 galls per leaf. The galls are reddish green when fresh and brown when mature. Galls are relatively abundant around Volcán Barú in Panama. 

Distribution. Prokius lisethiae was found to 3,000 m a.s.l. at Volcán Barú, Chiriqui, Panama.

Biology. Only the sexual generation is known. Young galls are present in January during the dry season, growing on new leaves. The adult insects emerge from mature galls in late January and February.

A new genus of Neotropical oak gall wasp, Prokius Nieves-Aldrey, Medianero & Nicholls, gen. nov.(Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini), with description of two new species from Panama