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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #356174
Research Project: Systematics of Parasitic and Herbivorous Wasps of Agricultural Importance

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: Review of the Synergus Hartig species (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Synergini) associated with tuberous and other tumor-like galls on oaks from America with the description of three new species from Mexico

Author
item LOBATO-VILA, IRENE - University Of Barcelona
item CIBRIAN-TOVAR, DAVID - Universidad Nacional Autonoma De Mexico
item BARRERA-RUIZ, URIEL M. - Universidad Nacional Autonoma De Mexico
item EQUIHA-MARTINEZ, ARMANDO - University Of Mexico
item ESTRADA-VENEGAS, EDITH - University Of Mexico
item Buffington, Matthew
item PUJADE-VILLAR, JULI - University Of Barcelona

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2018
Publication Date: 4/5/2019
Citation: Lobato-Vila, I., Cibrian-Tovar, D., Barrera-Ruiz, U., Equiha-Martinez, A., Estrada-Venegas, E., Buffington, M.L., Pujade-Villar, J. 2019. Review of the Synergus Hartig species (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Synergini) associated with tuberous and other tumor-like galls on oaks from America with the description of three new species from Mexico. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 121(2):193-255.

Interpretive Summary: Gall-inducing wasps play a major role both ecologically and agriculturally in the United States. Few are pest species, but all gall wasps modify their host plant for their own nutritive needs as well as shelter. Some wasps have lost the ability to induce galls, and instead, take over a gall that is already growing on a plant. This paper reviews wasps that do this in Mexico and the southern United States. New species are described, and older species are revised. Ecologists, bio-control workers, and extension entomologists will find these data essential for their work

Technical Abstract: A review of the inquiline oak gall wasp species of the genus Synergus Hartig, associated with tuberous and other tumor-like galls on oaks (Quercus L.) from America, is provided for the first time. Redescriptions, comments, pictures and new location data for the species previously known from America are provided. Three new species emerged from tuberous galls collected in Mexico, and are formally described and illustrated: Synergus grahami Lobato-Vila & Pujade-Villar sp. nov., S. shorthousei Lobato-Vila & Pujade-Villar sp. nov. and S. tenebrosus Lobato-Vila & Pujade-Villar sp. nov. A morphological key to identify and separate the new species is given. In addition, Saphonecrus brevicornis (Ashmead, 1896) is returned to Synergus and Synergus multiplicatus Fullaway, 1911 becomes syn. nov. of S. mexicanus Gillette, 1896.