92 Observations on Cynipidae. 



instances does not develop into the imago for two 

 years ; and should the galls not be kept as nearly as 

 possible in their natural condition they come to nothing. 

 After the galls are collected they must be laid on damp 

 sand until they become brown which is a sign that the 

 larva is full grown ; then it is best to put them in 

 a sheltered place in the open air to pass the winter ; 

 if these precautions be observed we may reckon with 

 certainty on obtaining the flies in April. 



Fly. Size 2-3 mm. long ; brownish red ; antennae 

 dark ; mesothorax marked by four black lines ; this 

 sign is very variable, as the two central lines are often 

 merged into each other, although in very pale specimens 

 they are generally plainly distinguishable. Thorax 

 smooth and shining, pleurae somewhat hairy, scutellum 

 rugose ; abdomen dark brown above ; coxae and base 

 of femora dark, as well as the outer margin of the 

 tibiae ; rest of the legs brownish yellow. This species 

 has until now been very variously described ; owing to 

 great diversity in the colouring of the fly and in the 

 form of the gall, a large number of varieties have been 

 distinguished, all however belonging to the same 

 species. The most striking thing is that its first 

 describer, Hartig, placed it in the genus Andricus 

 because he believed he had found the male. How this 

 error arose I do not know, because it is quite certain 

 that males do not occur, and no entomologist has seen 

 them since. The flies reared from these galls are 

 without exception females. 



Experimental breeding with this species is difficult, 

 because the fly is in the habit of pricking the buds 



