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638 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Pontania desmodioides Walsh 



A smooth, flattish, sessile, yellowish green gall on both sides of the leaf of S a 1 i x 

 h u m i 1 i s in all probability belongs to this species. 



The galls of this insect were taken by Mr Pergande at Richfield 



Springs on Sep. 28, 1886, and it is probably a somewhat common species. 



The gall has been described by Mr Walsh as follows : 



The gall is found on S. humilis. It is smooth, flattish, fleshy, 

 sessile, yellowish green, monothalamus, semicircular in general shape like 

 the seed of a Desmodium or the quarter of an orange. It is about equally 

 divided between the two surfaces of the leaf ; no rosy cheek. Generally 

 there is but one gall on a leaf ; one leaf was seen with three upon it. 

 Length .23 to .5 inches. 131 specimens. Gall mature July 30. 



The larvae resemble those of other gall-inhabitating species belonging 



to this group, and when full grown transform to the adult within their 



shelters, at least when there is no earth that can be conveniently entered. 



The parent insect is about 1 5 inch long, dark brown marked with reddish 



brown, and with the lower part of the abdomen and the legs rust yellow. 



Pontania hyalina Norton 



Fleshy, reddish galls on Salix f r a g i 1 i s, occurring in two parallel rows one on 

 either side of the midrib, sometimes touching but not originating from the latter, and 

 rarely extending to the edge of the leaf, may be those of this insect. 



This species occurs in New York State, the galls having been collected 



at Richfield Springs by Mr Pergande in February 1886, adults being bred 



from the same Mar. 3 and Ap. 27. The gall and its arrangement has been 



described by Marlatt as follows : 



Fleshy galls, occurring in two parallel rows, one on either side of the 

 midrib sometimes touching but not originating from the latter, and rarely 

 extending to the edge of the leaf; sometimes as many as 20 on a single 

 leaf ; in other cases confined to a row on one side of the leaf, or occa- 

 sionally occurring singly ; shape irregular, elongate ovate, projecting equally 

 on both surfaces of the leaf; length 7 to 10 mm, the abortive ones smaller. 

 Color on upper side more or less brownish red ; beneath white with slight 

 purplish tinge. The galls result from the punctures of the females in the 

 very tenderest leaves, the wound closing and becoming invisible. 



