Reticulodermis lithogalla gen. nov. and sp. nov. of oak gall wasp from Mexico (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae)

Rosa D García-Martiñón ¹, Amando Equihua-Martínez ², Edith G Estrada- Venegas ³

¹Posgrado en Fitosanidad; Entomología y Acarología; Colegio de Postgraduados; Carretera México-Texcoco; Km 36.5; Montecillo; 56230 Montecillo; Estado de México (México). rosadeliagama@gmail.com.
²Posgrado en Fitosanidad; Entomología y Acarología; Colegio de Postgraduados; Carretera México-Texcoco; Km 36.5; Montecillo; 56230 Montecillo; Estado de México (México). equihuaa@colpos.mx.
³Posgrado en Fitosanidad; Entomología y Acarología; Colegio de Postgraduados; Carretera México-Texcoco; Km 36.5; Montecillo; 56230 Montecillo; Estado de México (México). estradae@colpos.mx.
⁴Plant Health Diagnostic National Reference Laboratory; National Food Chain Safety Office; Budaörsi str. 141-145; Budapest 1118; Hungary. melikageorge@gmail.com.
⁵Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala; Laboratorio de Ecología y Taxonomía de Árboles y Arbustos. Av. de los Barrios 1; Los Reyes Iztacala. Tlalnepantla de Baz; Estado de México. sromero@unam.mx.
⁶Universitat de Barcelona; Facultat de Biologia; Departament de Biologia Animal; Avda. Diagonal 645; 08028-Barcelona (Catalonia). vcuesta@ub.edu.
⁷Universitat de Barcelona; Facultat de Biologia; Departament de Biologia Animal; Avda. Diagonal 645; 08028-Barcelona (Catalonia). jpujade@ub.edu.

⁰Posgrado en Fitosanidad; Entomología y Acarología; Colegio de Postgraduados; Carretera México-Texcoco; Km 36.5; Montecillo; 56230 Montecillo; Estado de México (México). rosadeliagama@gmail.com.

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December 8, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

A new genus and species of oak gall wasp, Reticulodermis and R. lithogalla, were discovered in Mexico. These wasps induce galls on the leaves of Quercus crassipes trees.

Area Of Science

Entomology
Hymenoptera
Oak Gall Wasps

Background

Oak gall wasps (Cynipidae) are a diverse group of insects known for their complex life cycles and gall-inducing habits.
The diversity of oak gall wasps in Mexico is not fully understood, particularly those associated with specific oak sections like Lobatae.

Purpose Of The Study

To describe a new genus and species of oak gall wasp from Mexico.
To provide diagnostic, distributional, and biological data for the new species.
To present an identification key for oak gall wasp genera found on Quercus section Lobatae.

Main Methods

Morphological examination of adult specimens.
Description of a new genus (Reticulodermis) and a new species (R. lithogalla).
Compilation of biological and distributional data.
Development of an identification key.

Main Results

Description of Reticulodermis Pujade-Villar, Cuesta-Porta & Melika gen. nov.
Description of Reticulodermis lithogalla García-Martiñón & Pujade-Villar sp. nov.
Reticulodermis is known only from its asexual generation, inducing leaf galls on Quercus crassipes (section Lobatae).
An identification key to genera of oak gall wasps on Quercus section Lobatae is provided.

Conclusions

The discovery of Reticulodermis and R. lithogalla expands the known diversity of oak gall wasps in Mexico.
This research contributes to the understanding of gall wasp-insect-plant interactions within the Quercus section Lobatae.
The provided identification key will aid future taxonomic and ecological studies of oak gall wasps in the region.

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