Cynips (aggregata) finitima, new species
agamic form

GALL.-Moderate in size, up to 25. mm., but averaging nearer 19. mm. in diameter, with a slender, drawn-out, sharply-pointed pedicel at base; light yellow tan to dark russet brown, usually spotted or irregularly striped with dull purple, these markings broader and more conspicuous than in aggregata; often with a whitish or bluish puberulence; occurring singly or (more often) in large clusters; the galls inserted in cracks in the bark of young twigs. Figure 85.

HOST.-Quercus sacame, a close relative of the more northern Q. arizonica.

RANGE.-Chihuahua: Pacheco, 13 NE, 7400', and 20 E, 5400' (types). Possibly wide-spread throughout the Western Sierra in the state of Chihuahua, at least in all but the southernmost hundred miles of that state. Figure 84.

LIFE HISTORY.—Adults: February 4 and later (unrecorded) dates

This insect, from Northern Chihuahua, is very close to aggregata of Southern Arizona and New Mexico. Finitima is generally darker, especially on the sides of the thorax and abdomen, it averages smaller, and—most certain distinction of all—it has a gall which is more conspicuously spotted and covered with purple markings which are broader than those of aggregata.

Atrusca finitima (Kinsey, 1936)

Figs 290–303

Synonymy
Cynips (aggregata) finitima Kinsey, 1936: 165, female, gall.
Atrusca finitima (Kinsey): Weld 1952: 314.

Types examined

HOLOTYPE female Cynips (aggregata) finitima “Pacheco 13 NE Chi 7400’, Mex. Gall 10.14.31, 3 fms. 2.4.32”, “Q. sacame, Kinsey coll.”, red “Cynips finitima, Holo- Paratype”, deposited in AMNH, NYC, examined by GM. Two PARATYPE females “Pacheco 20E, Chi 7400’, Mex., galls 10.14.31, 3 females 2.4.32.”, “Q. sacame Kinsey coll.”, red label “Cynips finitima Paratype”, deposited in the general collection in AMNH, NYC, examined by GM.

Gall (Fig. 303)

The gall up to 25 mm, in average 19 mm in diameter, with a slender, sharply-pointed pedicel at the base; light yellow tan to dark russet brown, usually spotted or irregularly striped with dull purple, often with a whitish or bluish puberulence; singly or more often in large clusters; galls inserted in cracks in the bark of young twigs.

Biology

The asexual generation is only known to induce leaf galls on Q. arizonica (= Q. sacame). Galls mature in late autumn; adults emerge from February next year.

Distribution

Mexico: Chihuahua.