parasitic subfamilies also may be taken in sweeping. They can be determined to 
genus only and very likely will not belong in any genus already reported from 
the area# The beginner will often collect galls from which the maker has 
already emerged and so will rear only guests and parasites. Notes on collecting 
on page 87 will indicate the two most profitable times of year for collecting# 
For the purposes of this paper a simple Latin binomial is deemed sufficient 
designation of a species and the use of variety names has been largely avoided. 
Varieties can not usually be recognized in the field nor can the adults be 
separated without knowledge of host and locality. However in the Synoptic List 
mention is made of the fact that varieties of the species have been described in 
the literature. In a few cases varieties have been given tentative specific 
status# It is not likely that galls in Texas and Florida are varieties of a 
California species. 
It is not within the scope of this paper to list the localities where a given 
gall has been collected. When a gall has been taken only once the place is 
mentioned so that others may look for it. 
This iB largely a one - ^ 11 work prepared without editorial supervision. It 
puts on record what the writer has learned about collecting and rearing the galls 
of the area and suggests some life history problems yet unsolved. Some of the 
emergence records are from the Brodie notes which came to the U.S.National Museum. 
It forms the basis on which others can build. Its Interpretation of what some 
of the older authors had before them may not always be correct. It is hoped 
that it may be useful to amateurs in identifying cynipid material that may come 
to their attention and that some with entomological background may be stimulated 
to undertake experimental work on life histories. 
For a retirement hobby that till take one out-of-doors in the woods to study 
the oaks there or transplanted to the back yard, provide at excuse to travel to 
see other kinds of oaks and probably add to existing knowledge what better 
subject than these cynipids? 
No new species, no new synonymy. 
5 
