The oak gall wasps of Israel (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae, Cynipini) - diversity, distribution and life history Author Shachar, Einat Author Melika, George Author Inbar, Moshe Author Dorchin, Netta text Zootaxa 2018 2018-11-16 4521 4 451 498 journal article 27950 10.11646/zootaxa.4521.4.1 832ac35c-8871-4041-9321-ea7f2ae5eb41 1175-5326 2610021 A4FD6137-25B0-43D5-845B-B4FDF4E9F5D7 Andricus megatruncicolus Melika, 2008 Host plants. Israel : Q. boissieri . Iran and Turkey : Q. infectoria . Life history. Known only from the bud galls of the asexual generation, which are pentagon-shaped, 5–15 mm in diameter and single-chambered ( Fig. 21 ). The galls are broadly attached to the branch and are composed of five flattened units that sheath a spherical mass. Old galls remain on the tree for several years. Phenology. Galls develop over the summer and mature in September, adults emerge in the following spring ( Tavakoli et al . 2008 ). Distribution. Israel : Very rare, found only twice in one location on Mt. Hermon at 1780 m .a.s.l. Elsewhere: Iran and Turkey . Comments. The species epithet reflects the close similarity of the adults and galls of the asexual generation to those of Andricus truncicolus (Giraud) , and the larger size of the gall. The extreme rarity of purely asexual lifecycles in oak gallwasps ( Stone et al . 2002 ) suggests that A. megatruncicolus has a sexual generation which probably develops on oaks from section Cerris .