260 THE CAi^ADlAN tlNTOMOLOGisl". 



DESCRIPTIONS OF FIVE NEW GENERA IN THE FAMILY 



CYNIPID^. 



BY WILLIAM H. ASHMEAD, ASSISTANT CURATOR, DEPARTMENT OF INSECTS, 



U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Subfamily VIII. — Cynipin^. 



Xystoteras, gen. nov. 



This new genus somewhat resembles Phiionix, Fitch ( = Acraspis, 

 Mayr), and agrees with it in having 14-jointed antenn;e, but otherwise is 

 quite different. The head, thorax and abdomen are highly polished, 

 impunctate, the mesonotum being entirely without any trace of the 

 parapsidal furrows, and in this character differing widely from all other 

 of the agamous genera of the Cynipinre. The absence of the parapsidal 

 furrows being peculiar only to the sexual genera N'eiiroiertis (Ameristus, 

 Forster) and Dolichostrophus, Ashmead. The third joint of the anteimie 

 is not quite as long as joints i and 2 or 3 and 4 united, joints 10-13 ^ 

 little longer than thick, while the last joint is fusiform, a little longer than 

 the penultimate. The scutellum has a depression across its base, but is 

 without distinct fovese, and is also not separated from the base of the 

 mesonotum by a delicate grooved line j apically it is obtusely rounded, 

 shagreened and somewhat densely pubescent. The mesopleura have a 

 large, rather deep vertical femoral impression. The wings are represented 

 by very short pads which do not extend beyond the apex of the meta- 

 thorax or just reach to base of abdomen. The abdomen is about twice 

 as long as the head and thorax united, polished, bare ; the second seg- 

 ment dorsally occupies about half the whole surface ; the third segment 

 dorsally is not quite as long as segments 4 and 5 united ; the segments 

 4-7 subequal ; while the hypopygium terminates in a long, pubescent 

 spine. The hind tarsi are as long as their tibiae, the claws being simple. 



Xystoteras volutellce^ sp. n. 



Gall. — A conical, bluish-gray gall, from 3 to 3.5 mm. high, by 2.5 

 mm. in diameter at base ; occurring singly or in great numbers on the 

 under surface of the leaves of Quercus macrocarpa in Riley County, 

 Kansas. The top of the gall is truncate and internally it is hollow, 

 with the larval cell or kernel, resembling a minute nipple, situated at its 

 base. The gall is attached to the leaf by a few fibres and may easily be 

 detached. The colour of the gall is produced by a powdery or pruinose 

 bloom wliich completely covers it when fresh. 



