3,2 ROEBUCK : ON YORKSHIRE CYNIPID/E. 



October 1878 (Entom., xi. 225) Mr. Fitch was able to give a 

 list of no less than 41 British species infesting the oak-tree alone. 

 It would be a good plan for some member of our Union to study 

 the oak-galls of the County taking Mr. Fitch's papers in vols. yii. 

 to xi. of the 'Entomologist' as his starting-point. The experience 

 gained in this comparatively easy task would afterwards be of 

 service in commencing the study of the galls and Cynipidse of 

 other plants. 



COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION. 



Reference may be made to a short paper by Mr. E. A. Fitch 

 (Entom. Aug. 1875, viii. 170). Nothing can be done without 

 breeding; and if the gall is known it is a great help to the identifica- 

 tion of the producer, its inquilines and parasites. Every gall con- 

 tains inmates of these three classes. The Cynips is the true gall- 

 maker; and the difference in economy between parasites and 

 inquihnes is that the latter take possession of the gall when made 

 as suitable to their development, not being parasitic on the 

 original owner. Directions for distinguishing the Synergi from 

 the true Cynipidce are given by Mr. Fitch (Entom. Oct. 1878, 

 xi. 220). Some species are readily bred by simply placing 

 the gall in a chip box and waiting till the insect emerges. Other 

 and more succulent ones require care and attention and are sure 

 to mould if damp or immature. If so they should be left exposed 

 for a day or two before putting away. Mr. Fitch recommends 

 the air-tight plan of breeding adopted by micro-lepidopterists, and 

 lays great stress on the importance of avoiding confusion by the 

 accidental introduction of other and similar insects which are not 

 actually in the galls. Consequently there should be in the galli- 

 pots the galls only, and neither leaves, twigs nor anything else. 

 Only mature galls should be bred from, and it is no use expecting 

 to breed from the "oak-spangles" collected off the trees: they 

 must be picked off the ground about January and February. 

 Galls when bred from should not be thrown away, as they produce 

 more than one series of inhabitants. If compelled to breed 

 immature galls, the stalk shoull be placed in water and the gall 

 enclosed in gauze, and under certain circumstances gauze (green 



Trans. Y.N.U., 1877. Series D 



