Feron verutum Kinsey, 1937 comb. rev.

Gall (Fig. 488). Individual galls long and slender, uniformly cylindric or flaring at the top, more or less covered with distinctly crystalline processes all of which are broad and blunt, filamentous, not fine nor hairlike. The whole cluster forming a spiny mass in which the individual galls are still prominent, the clusters up to 30 mm in diameter and 12 mm high. Bright purple rose and straw colour when fresh, darkening with age (Kinsey 1937).

Biology. Only the asexual generation is known, which induces galls on section Quercus, subsection Leucomexicana oaks: Q. magnoliifolia, and Q. rugosa (Kinsey 1937). Fresh mature galls in January, adults emerge in April (Kinsey 1937). The type material is labelled as collected from Q. macrophylla, but Kinsey did not define the authorship of the host species. Two possible hosts coexist within the distribution of F. verutum: Q. magnoliifolia (= macrophylla Née), or Q. resinosa (= macrophylla sensu Trel.).

Distribution. Mexico: San Luis Potosi, Guanajuato (Kinsey 1937); also from Ciudad de Mexico state in this study.

Feron verutum, n. sp.
Agamic form

Gall. — Individual galls long and slender, uniformly cylindrical or flaring at the top, fairly well covered with distinctly crystalline processes all of which are broad and blunt, filamentous, none of which are fine or hair-like. The whole forming a spiny mass in which the individual galls are quite prominent, the clusters up to 55, mm. in diameter and 17. mm. high. Bright purple rose and straw color when fresh, darkening with age.

Host. — Quercas macrophylla. [magnoliifolia]

Range. — San Luis Potosi; Rio Verde, 14 W, 6500b Guanajuato: San Felipe, 20 SW, 8000’. — Spread over an area in Central Mexico, at least from Guanajuato to eastern San Luis Potosi.

Life History. -- Adults: April 22, 30. May 1’2. Most of the emergence in the last week of April.

This is one of the series which has crystalline, filament-covered galls and insects with 13-segmented antennae. The spectacular gall of the species Is the largest of the complex. The two points from which we have the insects are only about 80 miles apart, but they are separated by broad deserts and barren, mountain areas, and the species probably spreads indirectly through connecting ranges which may involve a goodly portion of Central Mexico. The nearest known relatives are vitreum and validum, from the Valley of Mexico and from Morelos, respectively. These other species are located about 180 miles from verutum. Undescnbed species of the series may occur in the intervening territory. The present species is distinct from validum in having the mesonotum practically naked, and smooth and shining posteriorly; and from vitreum in being darker, with 3 or 4 more of the antennal segments dark brown, and the scutellum more rugose with a well-indicated median groove.

Near San Felipe, in the state of Guanajuato, verutum occurs on Q. macrophylla, and testurnarum (of the series with 13-segmented antennae) occurs on Q. chihuahuensisy Q. undata, Q. jaralensis, and possibly other dwarf and arborescent oaks