8 Annals Entomological Society of America [Vol. II, 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON NOMENCLATURE. 



Your Committee desires to report that since its appointment, 

 four matters have been presented for its consideration. Of these, 

 one was the consideration of a particular case and was soon 

 settled. The second is still under consideration; the third it has 

 not as yet been able to take up, and the conclusions which the 

 Committee have reached upon the fourth case are herewith 

 presented. 



The nomenclature of gall insects was referred to the Commit- 

 tee as the result of a paper by Dr. E. P. Felt presented at the last 

 meeting. The Committee is not unanimous on all points, but 

 considers it desirable to present the following: 

 Report on the Nomenclature of Gall Insects. 



In the literature relating to galls and gall insects, there are 

 found several different kinds of description, accompanied by 

 names. 



(i) Those relating to the galls only, with names intended to 

 apply to the galls, not to their inhabitants. 



(2) Those relating to the galls only, but with specific names 

 referred to particular insect genera, and intended to apply to the 

 gall insects themselves, these being known at the time only from 

 their work. 



(3) Those relating to the galls and the contained larvae, with 

 name's proposed to be applied to the insects. 



(4) Those relating to the galls and the adult insects bred 

 therefrom, and sometimes also to the larvae, with names proposed 

 for the insects in the usual manner. 



(5) Those relating to the adult insects, the galls being un- 

 known, with names as usual. 



I. It is agreed that in cases falling under No. i, the names 

 proposed do not enter Zoological Nomenclature. It is also obvious 

 that in cases 4 and 5, the names are correctly proposed, and 

 available for use if otherwise in accordance with the International 

 Rules. 



II. It is the opinion of the Committee that specific names 

 based on larvae (case 3) are available, and may be used. 



III. With regard to the description of the gall, it is recog- 

 nized that it forms a valuable part of the diagnosis of any gall 

 insect, and that without it the recognition of the species may be 

 difficult or practically impossible, especially when the description 

 is not very detailed or precise. The Committee is willing to 

 accept a name based nn the description of an adult or larva plus 



