Amphibolips jaliscensis sp. nov.

Gall (Figs 19A, 19B). A globular oak apple gall. Monothalamic; outer shell thin and internally showing a spongy consistency, filling the entire gall. Grows on twigs of Quercus sp. aff candicans.

Distribution. A. jaliscensis was found at 2370 m a.s.l. at Jalisco state, Mexico.

Biology. Exhibits a sexual generation; both males and females are known. The galls were collected in late March, and the insects emerged in April.

Amphibolips jaliscensis

Galls of A. jaliscensis and A. michoacaensis are subglobose, outer shell thin and rather fragile with uniform colouration (pale green in A. jaliscensis and whitish in A. michoacaensis), with spongious parenchyma internally, the gall turning brown when dry. Galls of A. nevadensis are different for its distinct apical tip. Amphibolips jaliscensis gall is similar to other species with large globular shape, without mottled surface; it is not differentiable from A. hidalgoensis and A. michoacaensis, but differs from A. quercuspomiformis comb. nov., A. oaxacae, A. tarasco, A. kinseyi n. sp. and A. bassae n. sp. in having a deformable surface at finger pressure because the parenchyma relatively soft in A. hidalgoensis, A. jaliscensis and A. michoacaensis.

Gall. Spherical bud galls, maximum diameter 43–54 mm; outer shell thin, firm, surface smooth with uniform pale green colour turning into brown when dry; internal tissue soft and spongious, with central larval chamber around 5 mm (Nieves-Aldrey et al. 2012: Figs 19A–B).

Hosts. Quercus aff. calophylla (= Q. aff. candicans), Q. laurina.

Biology. The sexual generation is only known. The mature galls were collected in late March; adults emerged in April and May.

Distribution. Mexico: Jalisco and Mexico states.

Remarks. This species is difficult to differentiate from A. michoacaensis, except for two scutellar characters. This fact leads us to suspect that they might be the same species.