132 BRITISH OAK GALLS. 
Spathegaster Taschenbergi, Schlechtendal. 
(Plate LIT, div. C.) 
Dryophanta Taschenbergi, Mayr; Spathegaster Taschenbdergi, 
Mayr, Fitch, Adler; §. floseuli, Giraud; S. Giraudi, Tschek. . 
English name of gall.—-“ The Purple Velvet-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, 
3mm.; girth, 6mm. 
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 scutellaris, 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 imner 
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- 
ancé, 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 days ; 
the intensity of light enables the collector to see them 
more readily. 
Considering the abundance of the agamic form, the 
comparative scarcity of tis gall is remarkable. 
