NEW GENERA AND SPECIES OF GALL MIDGES. 



By E. Porter Felt, 



State Entomologist of New York. 



The following descriptions of new genera and species are based 

 upon a collection of gall midges in the United States National Museum, 

 kindly loaned for study by Mr. F. Knab, through the courtesy of 

 Dr. L. O. Howard. The forms are so interesting from both a tax- 

 onomic and faunal standpoint that it has been deemed best to char- 

 acterize them in the hopes that others may give attention to this 

 practically un worked field. 



It will be noted that an unusually large percentage of these insects 

 are referable to the Asphondyliariae, an exceptionally interesting 

 group because of its high degree of specialization and wide distribu- 

 tion. A table for the separation of the genera of the world, a modi- 

 fication of that given by Dr. J. J. Kieffer in fascicle 152, Genera 

 Insectorum, has been prepared not only for the purpose of facilitating 

 the recognition of these new forms, but also to give a taxonomic 

 summary of the tribe. It will be noticed that there are two distinct 

 lines of specialization, the dominant having a protractile aciculate 

 ovipositor, usually accompanied by a uni or bidentate terminal clasp 

 segment in the male. The more generalized in this group is the 

 widely distributed Schizomyia recorded from G.ye of the six conti- 

 nents and presumably occurring also in Australia. The more easily 

 recognized and apparently very successful Asphondylia has been 

 recorded from all continents, there probably being a considerable 

 number of species in each. 



The less highly specialized Asphondyliariae have a wide distribu- 

 tion and apparently a much greater restriction in the number of 

 species. The American Cincticornia has a near relative in the Euro- 

 pean Polystepha, both being closely restricted to oak, while the food 

 plant of the very distinct though similar Eocincticomia of Australia 

 is unknown. 



Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. 48— No. 2072. 



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