132 BRITISH OAK GALLS. 



Spathegaster Taschenbergi, Schleclitendal. 

 (Plate LII, div. C.) 



Dryophanta Tasclienbergi, Mayr ; Spathegaster Taschenbergi, 

 Mayr, Fitch, Adler ; S.fosculi, Griraud ; -S'. Giraudi, Tscliek. 



English name of gall. — " The Pufj^le Yelvet-Bud Gall." 



Position of gall. — In dormant adventitious buds of the bark 

 and small twigs. 



Manner of growth. — Solitary, sessile, pubescent, ovoid, rounded 

 at apex. 



Colours. — Violet, dark violet, purple. 



Average dimensions of a mature specimen. — Height, 

 3 mm. ; girth, 6 mm. 



May be sought during the months of April and May. 



Growth is complete by the end of May. 



The typical condition of the gall is unilocular and unilarval. 



The larva pupates in the gall. The imago emerges during 

 May and June. 



Alternate agamic generation: Dryophanta scw^eZZan's, Hartig. 



The beautiful colour of this dainty little gall is 

 " caused by a peripheral layer of pigment cells, 

 studded over with short white hairs which give 

 the velvety appearance to the surface. The inner 

 kernel of the gall is soft and consists of cells con- 

 taining starch granules ; these are completely eaten 

 by the larva, so that ultimately nothing is left but a 

 thin rind" ('Alternating Generations,' p. 63). 



A most beautiful little gall, and worth, any amount 

 of trouble to obtain. It is very distinctive in appear- 

 ance, but somewhat obscure in its habitat. 



The galls should be looked for amongst the clusters 

 of adventitious buds and little twigs on the trunks of 

 old trees in woods. Three is the usual number in a 

 cluster, but solitary specimens are not infrequent. 



It is advisable to search for them on sunny da^'s ; 

 the intensity of light enables the collector to see them 

 more readily. 



Considering the abundance of the agamic form, the 

 comparative scarcity of this gall is remarkable. 



