Kinsey: The Genus Neuroterus 
129 
by my description. I have galls but no insects of several of 
these latter species. The subgenus is very closely related 
to the American groups Diplobius and Dolichostrophus, and 
in several respects shares characters of each of these, while 
showing a decidedly independent development. The three 
subgenera have probably had a common origin, but the geo- 
graphic isolation of the Old World species has favored a 
distinct evolution. Neuroterus is distinguished from the 
American groups particularly by the slight development of 
the malar furrow, the 14 segments in the antennae, and the 
larger average size of the insects, and in the male by the 
enlarged eye, curved third segment, and very small abdomen. 
The male particularly differs from the males of the American 
groups. The galls of Neuroterus are not as primitive as those 
of many American species, but more primitive than in the 
European Spatheg aster. The two Old World subgenera, 
Neuroterus and Spathegaster, are less closely related to each 
other than each is to an American group. 
Agamic and bisexual generations are known for these 
species, but no species has had the alternate generations con- 
nected. Probably the alternation is quite simple, with similar 
galls in the two generations, which galls may differ primarily 
in location. The known bisexual generations mature in late 
spring or early summer, the agamic are to be found in the 
fall tho usually not maturing until early spring, — quite in 
agreement with our American species. 
The type species of this subgenus is the same as that 
designated by Foerster for Ameristus, so the two names are 
synonyms. This species, N. politus Hartig, was from Ger- 
many ; it was poorly described, largely using color characters, 
has no type material in existence, and has not been certainly 
recognized by recent workers, altho Cameron did think he 
had it. Nevertheless, the smooth thorax and the size of the 
insect are in accord with our present group of European 
species rather than with the number of other European species 
which belong to Spathegaster. Altho our restriction of the 
term Neuroterus cannot be too well founded, it follows 
European practice and probably can stand as the most con- 
venient usage not in discord with the meager data. 
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