The oak gall wasps of Israel (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae, Cynipini) - diversity, distribution and life history Shachar, Einat Melika, George Inbar, Moshe Dorchin, Netta Zootaxa 2018 2018-11-16 4521 4 451 498 Giraud, 1859 Giraud 1859 [151,591,1289,1315] Insecta Cynipidae Andricus GBIF Animalia Hymenoptera 12 463 Arthropoda species grossulariae   Host plants. Israel:  Q. boissieri(asexual generation) and  Q. ithaburensis(sexual generation). Elsewhere: several species from section  Quercus(asexual generation) and section Cerris(sexual generation).  Life history.Until recently,  A. grossulariaewas known only from its sexual generation, but rearing experiments ( Walker 2002) and molecular data ( Stone et al. 2008) associated it with galls that had been traditionally attributed to the asexual generation of  A.mayri/  A.panteli, hence these two species were synonymized under  A. grossulariae. The sexual generation induces conical, pointy catkin galls, up to 7 mmlong, singlechambered, and usually in clusters. They are light green and soft when very young ( Fig. 49), turning bright red to deep purple and woody when mature ( Fig. 50). Old galls remain on the tree until the next year. The asexual generation develops in bud galls that are up to 50 mmin diameter, composed of thick, tapering projections that form a sphere ( Fig. 9), and are multi-chambered. They are bright green and sticky when young, turning light brown, woody, and not sticky when mature. Old galls may remain on the tree for a year.   Phenology.In Israel, galls of the sexual generation begin to develop in late February to early March and adults emerge from them in late March, but in higher, colder localities (e.g., Odem Forest and En Zivan) they develop later in the season and adults emerge in May. Galls of the asexual generation develop during the fall and adults emerge in January.   Distribution. Israel: Galls of the sexual generation are common and widespread throughout the distribution range of  Q. ithaburensisin the country. Galls of the asexual generation are common in the northern part of Israelbut are rare in Zur Hadassa (Judean Mountains). Elsewhere: A widespread and locally common species from Northern Africa through the Iberian Peninsula across Europe and the Balkans to Asia Minor, Iranand Caucasia.   Comments.Galls of the sexual generation are very similar to those of  A. coriariformison  Q. libani, but develop on  Q. ithaburensis. They are also somewhat similar to galls of  A. vindobonensis( Fig. 51) but differ from them in having pointed apices and in their bright red color when mature, whereas the galls of  A. vindobonensisare kidney- or bean-shaped, and dull purple-green when mature. Galls of the asexual generation are somewhat similar to the less common morphologies of  A. coriariusgalls ( Fig. 16) but are more robust, and their lobes are shorter, more numerous and less tapered.