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 sp. nr. amenti Host plants. Israel : Q. libani and Q. cerris . Life history. Known only from the delicate, single-chambered leaf galls of the sexual generation, which are composed of an oval purple chamber that is carried on a long stalk for a total length of 8–11 mm ( Fig. 69 ). Phenology. Young galls were observed in April and a single female of the sexual generation emerged in May. Distribution . Known only from Israel : common on some trees on Mt. Hermon at 1780 m .a.s.l. and more rare at 1500 m .a.s.l. and on Mt. Kahal. Comments. Similar galls in Europe that develop in catkins of oaks from section Quercus belong to A. alniensis Folliot , A. amenti Giraud , A. callidoma Hartig , A. malpighii (Adler) and A. seminationis (Giraud) ( Melika 2006b ) . However, the single adult we reared in Israel differs morphologically from those of the European species and is found on leaves of an oak from section Cerris . Together with preliminary molecular data (Shachar, unpublished) this suggests that the Israeli population represents a distinct species despite the similar gall morphology. A formal description of this species will be published elsewhere once more adults are reared.