18C8.J 225 



Spafhegaster, Hart., in Germ. Zeits. 2, 194 ; Tasch. Hym. 123. 



This genus diifers from Neiiroterus in having the maxillary palpi 

 5-, and the labial 3-jointed (which in Neuroterus are respectively 4- and 

 2-jointed), and from Trigonaspis in having the disc of the mesothorax 

 sub-coriaceous instead of glabrous, the labial palpi without apical 

 appendages, and 3- instead of 2-jointed (cf, p. 125 of this vol., N, 

 MalpigJiii). The length of the petiole in the (J Spathegaster is also a 

 good distinctive character. 



SpatTiegaster laccarum, Linn. 

 Black, shining ; abdomen glabrous, the rest of the body covered 

 with fine irregular strise and punctures ; the elevated portions of the 

 thorax and scutellum nearly glabrous. Antennse fuscous, straw-coloured 

 at the base. Ocelli red. "Wings very ample, sub-hyaline, pubescent, 

 having the same nervures as Neuroterus Malpighii, suffused with brown 

 and incrassated, but more deeply, and the radial vein more distinct. 

 Legs straw-coloured ; coxae at the base, and tips of the tarsi, blackish. 

 ^ $ . Long. 1 — 1| ; alar. exp. 4 — 4^ lin. 

 The synonymy of this species appears to be as follows : — 



Cynips quercus-haccarum, Lin., F. S., 1522 ; !Fab., S.E., 2, 101; 

 Piez., 144 ; not of Cuv., R. An. Ins., pi. 113, f. 3, nor ? 

 Eonscol., Ann. Sc. Nat., 26, p. 197. 

 Gynips quercus-pedunculi, Lin., F. S., 1524 ; Eab., S. E., 2, 102 ; 

 Curt., in Gard. Chron., 1844, p. 499, fig. with gall; 

 Westw., in Loudon's Arboret. Brit., vol. 3, p. 1824 ; etc. 

 Gynips interruptrix, Hart., in Germ. Zeits., 2, 207 (gall only). 



Spathegaster interruptor, Hart., in Germ. Zeits, 3, 341. 

 Figures of the gall are also to be found in Malpighi, pi. 16, f, 56, 

 and Eeaumur, Ins., vol. 3, pi. 40, f. 1 — 6. The gall is of two kinds, one 

 the globose, pellucid pea-gall found on the under-side of oak-leaves 

 (Q. baccaruvi), the other occurring on the male flowers of the oak, in 

 clusters, which " resemble in form, size, and colour, bunches of the 

 champagne currant. Oaks are sometimes covered with them as thickly 

 as currant-bushes with their fruit. They once occurred at Coombe 

 Wood in profusion in the middle of May ; also at "Wingham, in Kent, 

 and Enfield," (Curt., Gard. Chron., 1. c.) It is to this latter gall 

 that the name of Q. pedunculi refers. Hartig first observed that the 

 insects hatched from both galls are' identical. Having found both kinds 

 myself abundantly last spring on the same tree in this neighbourhood, 

 and having reared the flies, I am enabled entirely to coi*roborate this 



