Kinsey: Studies of Cynipidx 



117 



Insects were emerging from Pasadena galls on February 

 7, 1920 ; they emerged sometime after collecting at Upland 

 on February 3, on the Santa Catalina Island on February 11, 

 at Alpine on February 24, at San Jacinto Mountain on Febru- 

 ary 28, and at Palo Alto on March 13. Several collections 

 made early in March failed to give any adults at all. Appar- 

 ently most of the insects emerge in February. Galls gath- 

 ered even a short time before they were quite mature retained 

 many dead adults later, prevented from emerging by the too 

 early drying of even such a woody gall. Repeatedly galls 

 were found which had been broken into and considerably 

 gnawed by mice or other small mammals in search of the 

 larvae or pupse as food. 



This insect is distinct from all other varieties of the species 

 in having more closely convergent parapsidal grooves; the 

 more punctate and hairy mesopleurse, the larger areolet, and 

 the distinctly larger size separate the insect from kelloggi or 

 diminuens. The robust gall is very different from the slender 

 gall of diminuens. In general color and elongate abdomen 

 the insect shows relations to kelloggi and dAminuens, but in its 

 size, more hairy abdomen, and continuous cubitus it is related 

 to the pttgnus-atricinctus group of varieties. The variety 

 occurs on Qiiercus diimosa, on the very same trees in all the 

 wide range from which I collected diminuens. Under diminu- 

 ens I have discussed the possibility of considering these two 

 distinct species. 



Plagiotrichus chrysolepidicola variety atricinctus, new variety 



FEMALE. — Shows the following' characters in addition to those com- 

 mon to all varieties of the species: Color generally rufous brown, with 

 a distinct darker to black shading; antennae brown, only the first two 

 segments golden rufous, darker brown terminally; parapsidal grooves 

 rather distinct to the pronotum ; median groove more or less traceable 

 to the pronotum; anterior parallel lines' and lateral lines more distinct, 

 broader, more smooth than in other varieties; mesopleurae rufous, largely 

 but sparsely punctate and hairy, with small, smoother, naked areas be- 

 neath the tegul^ and on the ventral margin; foveas shining, but spar- 

 ingly rug-ose at bottom; abdomen darker, especially postero-dorsally, 

 sometimes in part approaching black, not as long as high ; legs including 

 the coxEe bright rufous brown, brown on the tibiae and tarsi, distinctly 

 dark brown on the hind tibiae ; areolet of moderate size or only moderately 

 small; cubitus distinctly complete; length 2.0-3.0 mm., averaging larger. 



GALL. — Similar to the galls of most other varieties; robust, up to 

 15. mm. wide by 30. mm. long, usually smaller; internally quite dense, 



