Nichollsiella sulcata, comb. nov.

Cynips sulcatus
Cynips sulcata
Disholcaspis sulcata

Hosts: Quercus arizonica, oblongifolia, pungens, rugosa, toumeyi, turbinella, undulata

[A photo of the gall appears on page 47 of the pdf]

Gall. (Figs 140–141). Detachable, monolocular, spherical or subglobular, base of the gall with a petiole, greater than 12 mm diameter, singly on leaf petiole, surface of the mature gall smooth. Parenchyma of the gall is granular, the larval chamber spherical, usually in the center of the gall, occassionally eccentric; soft and pubescent, up to 7.0–7.8 mm in diameter. The growing gall is light green or yellowish-red; mature galls are faded green to light brown (Burnett 1977).

Biology. Galls develop in spring, mature in summer; adults emerge in autumn. Galls on Q. arizonica, Q. oblongifolia, Q. pungens, Q. rugosa, Q. toumeyi, Q. turbinella, Q. undulata (Burnett 1977, Burks 1979, authors).

Range: AZ, NM

Weldia sulcata, new combination

Cynips sulcatus
Cynips sulcata
Disholcaspis sulcata

Gall: Monothalamous leaf-petiole galls occurring singly on leaves of [white-group] oaks; subglobular in outline, smaller galls spherical; surface of mature galls smooth; parenchymal tissue granular, loosely packed; larval capsule spherical, may be central or eccentric within gall, wall indistinct; growing galls light green when shaded, yellowish-red in direct sunlight; mature galls faded green to light brown on surface, light brown internally; not deciduous, but remain attached to leaf petiole and drop with leaves in fall. Horizontal diameter of 50 unparasitized galls 7.8 mm.

Although galls of W sulcata are known to occur only on the leaf petiole where it is attached to the stem, they are remarkably similar to those of W californica, in shape, surface and internal texture and color. The major differences are in the smaller size and often eccentric position of the larval capsule in galls of W sulcata.

Host records: Quercus arizonica, oblongifolia, pungens, rugosa, toumeyi, turbinella turbinella, and undulata

Range: AZ and western NM. It probably occurs in northern Mexico as well, wherever its host ranges.

The galls I have examined in collections and in the field have all been monothalamous, containing a single larval capsule. Occasionally, two galls may coalesce and appear to be bithalamous, but this is rare.

[From key to galls, page 176 of the pdf]

1. Subglobular stem and leaf petiole galls without apical projection or strong surface tubercles; surface may be smooth or bumpy

2. Leaf petiole galls on white oaks of Arizona and New Mexico; surface light brown, smooth; larval capsule spherical, irregularly positioned in parenchymal tissue, thin-walled; under 10 mm in diameter.

Disholcaspis sulcata

Quercus arizonica, oblongifolia, toumeyi, reticulata [rugosa], subturbinella [turbinella]
Leaf galls
Detachable
Fig 85.

Cynips sulcatus, new species

Gall: Two galls on petiole of live oak; they are irregularly roundish and are about the size and color of a large dried pea.

Habitat: AZ, NM