Celticecis connata Gagne, new species

Hosts: Celtis laevigata, occidentalis, reticulata, tenuifolia

Gall.--Usually along twig, occasionally on fruit, petiole or major veins of upper side of leaf; spheroidal, often irregularly so, woody, often consisting of two or more coalesced galls, usually with short nipple at apex; hairless, surface shining, becoming matte, red or green, turning brown; 5–7 mm high, 5–12 mm wide; connection to host small in extent, not apparent; walls thick, woody, but thin below nipple, the larval chamber ovoid.

Biological notes.--This is the only species of Celticecis to regularly form aggregate galls. In Alexandria, Louisiana, galls were found in late March before the leaves had hardened. By mid-April some galls contained small third instars, and by mid-May some larvae had formed cocoons. Galls begin to dehisce by mid-May, yet some remain on the twigs through November. Adults emerged from galls collected from Alexandria, Louisiana, and from Florida the spring following their collection, but emerged from galls collected from Pineville, Louisiana, and Bertram and Temple, Texas, only the second spring following their collection.

Distribution. — This is a mainly southern U.S. species found on all available hackberries.

AZ, GL, GA, KS, KY, LA, MO, TX, VA,