New species of Nearctic oak gall wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae, Cynipini)

• Published in: Zootaxa Vol. 5084; no. 1; p. 1
• Main Authors: Melika, George, Nicholls, James A, Abrahamson, Warren G, Buss, Eileen A, Stone, Graham N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand 23-12-2021
• Subjects: Animals; Hymenoptera; Quercus; Wasps
• ISSN: 1175-5334
• DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5084.1.1

Twenty nine new species of cynipid oak gall wasps from the Nearctic region (America north of Mexico) are described: Andricus archboldi Melika Abrahamson, sp. nov., A. catalinensis Melika, Nicholls Stone, sp. nov., A. chapmanii Melika Abrahamson, sp. nov., A. chiricahuensis Melika, Nicholls Stone, sp. nov., A. coconinoensis Melika, Nicholls Stone, sp. nov., A. columbiensis Melika, Nicholls Stone, sp. nov., A. cooki Melika, Nicholls Stone, sp. nov., A. fitzpatricki Melika Abrahamson, sp. nov., A. highlandensis Melika, Nicholls Stone, sp. nov., A. mellificus Nicholls, Stone Melika, sp. nov., A. menkei Melika Abrahamson, sp. nov., A. mogollonensis Melika, Nicholls Stone, sp. nov., A. nichollsi Melika Stone, sp. nov., A. schickae Nicholls, Melika Stone, sp. nov., A. torreyaensis Melika Abrahamson, sp. nov., A. williami Melika, Nicholls Stone, sp. nov., Antron lovellae Melika, Nicholls Stone, sp. nov., A.tomkursari Melika, Nicholls Stone, sp. nov., Dryocosmus archboldi Melika Abrahamson, sp. nov., Loxaulus virginianae Melika Buss, sp. nov., Neuroterus alexandrae Nicholls Melika, sp. nov., N. aliceae Melika, Nicholls Stone, sp. nov., N. bussae Melika Nicholls, sp. nov., N. oblongifoliae Nicholls, Stone Melika, sp. nov., N. quaili Melika, Nicholls Stone, sp. nov., N. rosieae Melika, Nicholls Stone, sp. nov., N. stonei Melika Nicholls, sp. nov., Zapatella abrahamsoni Melika, sp. nov., Z. brooksvillei Melika Abrahamson, sp. nov.. Alternate asexual and sexual generations are described for four species, Andricus archboldi Melika Abrahamson, sp. nov., A. fitzpatricki Melika Abrahamson, sp. nov., A. schickae Nicholls, Melika Stone, sp. nov., Neuroterus aliceae Melika, Nicholls Stone, sp. nov.. Descriptions, diagnoses, plus information on biology and host associations are given for all new species. All taxa are supported by morphological data; matching of generations is established using DNA sequence data. We also demonstrate that Neuroterus niger var. alimas Kinsey should be considered as a nomen dubium.