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 (Muller, 1870) Muller 1870 [151,537,1015,1042] Insecta Cynipidae Andricus GBIF Animalia Hymenoptera 11 462 Arthropoda species curtisii   Host plants. Israel:  Q. boissieri.Elsewhere:  Q. infectoria.  Life history.Known only from the bud galls of the asexual generation, which develop from lenticel (accessory) buds on the trunk and well-established branches. These are big, striking galls, 20–40 mmin diameter, composed of pyramidal units that form a spherical structure, pinkish, with a velvety cover ( Fig. 11), and contain a single central chamber embedded in spongy tissue. Old galls remain on the tree for several years. Molecular data suggest that the sexual generation of this species develops in cryptic bud galls currently attributed to the  Andricus burgunduscomplex ( Stone et al. 2008).   Phenology.The galls develop through the summer and mature by late September-early October. In Israel, adults emerge from January to early February, whereas in Europe they usually emerge in spring.   Distribution. Israel: Odem Forest, En Zivan, Allone HaBashan, Tel Hazeqa, Rehan Forest. Elsewhere: a locally common eastern-mediterranean species known from Croatia, Greece, Southern Italy, Turkey, Iran, West Azarbaijan, Kurdistanand Algeria.   Comments.The galls of this species cannot be mistaken for any other gall in Israel. They resemble the galls of  A. hartigiHartigon  Q. petraea, Q. pubescensand  Q. roburin Europe and Asia Minorbut  A. hartigigalls are covered by detachable spines whereas  A. curtisiigalls are velvety.