Melikaiella flora comb. n.

Callirhytis flora
Callirhytis milleri
Callirhytis essigi

The sexual form induces midrib swelling galls on leaves of Q. agrifolia Nee and Q. wislinzeni A. de Candolle.

The sexual gall (Figs. 15g, h-i) is a polythalamous abrupt smooth and polished formation on the midrib, at the base and underside of the leaf (10-30 x 6-9 mm). The gall occurs in spring and adults emerge from late March to June (Weld, 1922a; Dailey et al., 1974).

Range: CA

[They also note that there are two distinct varieties, one found on Quercus wislizeni and the other on Quercus agrifolia, which further research may determine to be two distinct species.]

Callirhytis flora Weld

Quercus agrifolia, wislizeni
Leaf galls, integral
Fig 116. Midrib and petiole swelling. June. Poly.

Fig 116. Q-agrifolia, wislizeni, kelloggii. From galls collected May 25 adults had emerged and died in packet by August 14.

Callirhytis flora, new species

Host. — Quercus wislizeni

Gall. — An abrupt smooth and polished swelling of the midrib on the under side at the base of the leaf blade and rarely extending half the length of the leaf, 10-30 mm. long by 6-9 mm. in diameter; polythalamous, hard.

Habitat. — The type locality is Mount Tamalpais, Marin County, California, where galls were collected May 25, 1918. Galls were also collected at Camp Baldy June 15. In both cases flies issued and died in the packets before August 14. The galls were seen also at Bagby, Los Gatos, and Santa Margarita. The new galls start to develop in April and are full grown in about a month. A similar gall occurs on Q. agrifolia, and when reared it will probably prove to be caused by this species.

Melikaiella flora (bisexual generation)

These integral, polythalamous galls of the bisexual generation measure 40 mm long by 10 mm across. Galls show more on the underside of the petioles and leaves than on the upper side, which can be distorted by gall development.

Hosts:
Quercus agrifolia
Quercus wislizeni