42 RHODITES SPINOSISSIM-ffl. 



3. RHODITES SPINOSISSIM2E. 



PI. XI, fig. 5, gall; PL XII, fig. 7, ? . 



Bhodites spinosissimee, Giraud, Verh. z.-b. Ges. Wien., 1859, 

 367 ; Schenck, Nass.' Cyn., 92, 94, and 

 124; Taschen., Hym. Deut., 135 ; Mayr, 

 Oyn. Gallen, 16, pi. ii, f. 13 ; Europ. 

 Cyn., 3 and 4. 



Black ; the abdomen black or fuscous-black, the legs pale yellowish, 

 the coxa3 blackish at the base, the hind femora infuscated above in the 

 middle ; wings hyaline, a little infuscated in the middle. Vertex and 

 mesonotum finely punctured and shagreened ; the antennae stoutish, the 

 third joint twice the length of the fourth ; scutellum opaque, finely 

 rugose. 



Length 2 to 2 - 5 mm. 



Easily known by the dark abdomen and hyaline 

 unspotted wings. The $ I have not seen. 



The gall of this species is hard, woody, and very 

 irregular in form. It occurs both in the leaves and 

 stem, and in either case forms an integral part of the 

 plant, in the latter part extending frequently to the 

 pith, and firmly embedded in it. It is polythalamous. 

 Some of the galls are as regular and spherical as those 

 of B. eglanteriae, and of about the same size; but, 

 generally speaking, it is very seldom that we find them 

 so regular as those of the last species, while the galls 

 of the latter are distinguished by being only very 

 slightly attached to the plant and readily dropping 

 off. They may occupy almost entirely one side of a 

 leaf, and part of the leaf may extrude through the 

 gall (see PL XI, fig. 5). In certain cases when this 

 happens the gall has the appearance of several galls 

 being amalgamated. On the stem the galls form 

 irregular pithy swellings. They may project through 

 both sides of the leaf or on one only; they may 

 occupy the entire leaf except a fringe of it ; may be 

 smooth or bear little projections, or even spines ; in 

 colour may be green, dull red, or very fiery red. 

 Besides being on the leaves and twigs they also occur 

 on the leaf- stalk, on the flower-buds, even on the 



