Atrusca cucurbita (Kinsey, 1936)

Figs 221–234

Synonymy
Cynips (aggregata) cucurbita Kinsey, 1936: 164, female, gall.
Atrusca cucurbita (Kinsey): Weld 1952: 314.

Types examined

HOLOTYPE female Cynips (aggregata) cucurbita “Atequiza 5E Jal. 6500’, Mex. Gall 12.23.31, fm. Spr’32”, “Q. haematophleb, Kinsey coll.”, red “Cynips cucurbita, Holo- Paratype”, deposited in AMNH, NYC, examined by GM. Two PARATYPE females “Atequiza 5E, Jal. 6500’, Mex., galls 12.23.31, 2 females early 1932”, “Q. haematophlebia Kinsey coll.”, red label “Cynips cucurbita Paratype”, deposited in the general collection in AMNH, NYC, examined by GM.

Gall (Fig. 234)

Large, up to 30 mm, in average 22 mm in diameter, globular tapering gradually into a long, sharply-pointed pedicel at the base, light rose or yellow, older galls light rosy tan or brown, usually in dense clusters, galls inserted in cracks in the bark of young twigs.

Biology

The asexual generation is only known to induce leaf galls on Q. magnoliifolia (= Q. haematophlebia), Q. rugosa (= Q. rhodophlebia). Galls mature in late autumn; adults emerge in early spring next year.

Distribution

Mexico: Jalisco.

- VICTOR CUESTA-PORTA, GEORGE MELIKA, MAR FERRER-SUAY, ALEXIS VERA-ORTIZ, JULI PUJADE-VILLAR: (2025) Review of the Nearctic and Neotropical genus Atrusca Kinsey, 1930 (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae, Cynipini)^©