Dactylosphaera minimum, n. sp.
Gall No. 7

Hosts: Carya amara [cordiformis]

Small round galls, generally very numerous in the leaves, and in some cases almost entirely covering them, a single leaf sometimes containing upwards of 250 galls ; the average size larger than those of No. 8, although often quite as small, the larger ones measuring three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter. They were (June 25th) quite hard and smooth, and present, especially above, a bright shining appearance; They were quite thick and plump, the vertical diameter Compared with the horizontal diameter being as 2 to 3, and were much more plump and elevated above the leaf than those of No. 8. The portions of the leaf between the gulls had in some cases turned crimson. I found from three to twenty-five inhabitants in a gall; the round opening beneath was so close as to be pretty safe against enemies, as I found none in the galls opened thus far. Larvae and pupae whitish, with red eyes; mother insect cinnamon color and smaller than the pupa.

On July 5th, I found winged imagos in all the galls, large and small, that were opened, the smallest galls not much exceeding .05 inch in diameter; when opened, the young insects eagerly ran out, and all presented the same pale, translucent appearance, with minute dark spots on the anterior part of the body, which is in contrast with the inhabitants of gall No. 8. The winged imago was first observed on June 30th.

Phylloxera minima (Shimer)

Galls on Carya amara (= cordiformis) in Illinois USA are small, round (diameter 1.1-5.0 mm) and numerous, with part protruding above leaf shining brightly, and a small opening beneath. Alatae, present in the galls in early July (Shimer 1869). The life cycle is unknown.

Phylloxera minima

Carya sp.
Conical or globose leaf galls with distinct orifice and containing aphids
Gall medium, walls papery, convex and considerably elevated above and more prominent than beneath, rather hard, smooth and shining, the orifice beneath round and closed; resembles the gall of P. caryaesemen, diameter 0.6 to 2 mm.

Phylloxera minimum Shimer.

Dactylosphaera minimum

Shimer' s original description is as follows:

"Small round galls, generally very numerous in the leaves, and in some cases almost entirely covering them, a single leaf sometimes containing upwards of 250 galls; the average size -larger than those of No. 8 [Ph. foveatum Shimer], although often quite as small, the larger ones measuring three-sixteenths of an inch [5 mm.] in diameter. They were (June 25th) quite hard and smooth, and present, especially above, a bright, shining appear- ance; they were quite thick and plump, the vertical diameter compared with the horizontal diameter being as 2 to 3, and were much more plump and elevated above the leaf than those of No. 8 [Ph. carya-semen Walsh]. The portions of the leaf between the galls had in some cases turned crimson. I found from three to twenty-five inhabitants in a gall; the round opening beneath was so close as to be pretty safe against enemies, as I found none in the galls opened thus far. larvae and pupae whitish, with red eyes; mother insect cinnamon color and smaller than the pupa.

"On July 5th I found winged imagos in all the galls, large and small, that were opened, the smallest galls not much exceeding .05 inch [1 mm] in diameter; when opened, the young insects eagerly ran out, and all presented the same pale, translucent appearance, with minute dark spots on the anterior part of the body, which is in contrast with the inhabitants of gall No. 8. The winged imago was first observed on June 30th."

Phylloxera minima

There were no Phylloxera specimens or dried gall specimens in the U.S. National Collection for Phylloxera minima (Shimer) so it has been designated as nomina dubia.