OAK GALLS AND GALL INSECTS. I39 



the galls were figured in Mr. Fitch's paper, in the second volume 

 of our Transactions^^ and that coloured figures are given in 

 Dr. Adler's and Mr. Cameron's books, to which attention has 

 been directed. — Ed. 



ORDER HYMENOPTERA. 



Family CYNIPIDAE. 



Sub-Family CYNIPINA. 



Gem4S NEUROTERUS (mg:). 



This genus contains, besides several from America, eleven 

 European species. In the sexual form the perfect insect has the 

 ovipositor short and nearly straight, the eggs being laid in the 

 leaf; the agamic forms have the ovipositor longer and more 

 spiral, as the eggs in this case are laid in the buds. The agamic 

 form also has the abdomen larger, but more compressed than in 

 the sexual form. Neuroterus punctatus and Neuvotenis politus are 

 the only two British species already known that do not make 

 galls ; the former has been taken from oak buds, but without 

 distorting them in any way. The agamic forms all make flat 

 spangle galls on the backs of oak leaves, with the exception of 

 N, apriliniLs ; the galls of the sexual generation differ in position 

 and appearance, the eggs being always laid in the bud and not 

 on the leaf. 



General colour black. There is no suture between the 

 mesonotum and the scutellum. 



Sexual forms have the legs light yellow. 



Agamic forms have the legs darker. 



(i.) Agamic Generation I. Neuroterus lenticularis (01.) 

 Inquiline. Synevgus tschehi (Mayr.) 



Gall. 



Appears on the under surface of the oak leaf (diameter 4-6 

 mm.) Colour : Yellowish-red. Under-surface flat, white and 

 glabrous. Shape : Rounded, conical in the centre. Numerous 



on the leaf. 



Imago. 



Colour: Black. Antennce : Brownish, 15-jointed, 2-3 basal joints yellow. 

 Thorax: Rough and finely punctured. Mesonohim : S\\:igXQii\\ed. Abdomen: 

 Compressed and shining. Ovipositor : Curved and longer than the abdomen. 

 Legs : Yellowish ; bases of femora and coxae darker. Wings : Hyaline ; 

 first cubital cellule slightly clouded. 



3 " The Galls of Essex," Tiatis. E.F.C. 11. pp. 9S-I56. 



