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 (Schenck, 1863) Schenck 1863 [151,584,1013,1039] Insecta Cynipidae Neuroterus GBIF Animalia Hymenoptera 24 475 Arthropoda species albipes   Host plants. Israel:  Q. boissieri.Elsewhere: several oak species from sections  Quercusand Cerris.  Life history.Galls of the sexual generation are elliptical leaf-margin galls, up to 4 mmin length, causing deformation of the leaf, light brown, covered by short white hairs, rigid and single-chambered. Galls of the asexual generation are flat, irregularly spherical leaf galls, up to 7 mmin diameter, usually in clusters ( Fig. 34). They have a central pit and resemble a small flower with undulating margins, varying in color from pale green to pink and purple.   Phenology.Galls of the sexual generation were observed in May and July but no adults were reared from them. Galls of the asexual generation appear in August, mature and drop from the leaves in late November- December, and the larvae overwinter in them on the ground until adult emergence in January-February. In Europe, adults emerge in spring.   Distribution. Israel: Galls of the sexual generation are rare and were observed on only a few occasions in Tel Hazeqa, Mt. Meron, Pa’ar cave and Rehan Forest. Galls of the asexual generation were found on Mt. Hermon at 1500 and 1780m.a.s.l., Odem Forest, En Zivan, Allone HaBashan, Tel Hazeqa, Pa’ar cave and Mt. Addir. Elsewhere: Widespread and occasionally common from the Iberian Peninsula north to Great BritainIsles and east to Turkeyand Transcaucasia. Also known from Northern Africa.   Comments.The galls of the asexual generation are somewhat similar to those of  Neuroterus quercusbaccarumon  Q. boissieri( Figs 35–36A) but are flatter and thinner, with no hairs.