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. quercusradicis ( Fabricius, 1798 ) Host plants. Israel : Q. ithaburensis ; Elsewhere: Mainly oaks from section Cerris (sexual generation) and from both Cerris and Quercus sections (asexual generation). Life history. Both the sexual and asexual generations are known. The sexual generation induces singlechambered, usually aggregated leaf galls on Q. ithaburensis , which are cryptic swellings of the main leaf vein, up to 3 mm in width ( Fig. 65 ). The asexual generation develops in woody, thick-walled multi-chambered root galls on Q. ithaburensis that are 3–10 cm in diameter when mature ( Sternlicht 1968b, Fig.1 ). Phenology. This species has a two-year lifecycle. Galls of the sexual generation develop in spring and adults emerge from them in September-October ( Sternlicht 1968b ). In Europe adults emerge in August-September and some may emerge the following year ( Melika 2006b ). The root galls of the asexual generation develop in the second year of the lifecycle. They mature in September and adults overwinter in them and emerge the following spring. Distribution. Israel : En Zivan, Mezar, Tiv’on, Hadera. Elsewhere: widespread in Europe and Northwest Africa to Transcaucasia and Asia Minor . Comments. The identity of this species could not be established with confidence because no adults were reared from the galls. Based on the morphology of the galls and the available data on its life history, we assume that it is related to A. quercusradicis , although that species is known from oaks in section Quercus whereas the galls in Israel are found on oaks from section Cerris .