January 29 ten adults were found emerged and dead while live gall maker larvae were still in the galls. These larvae were active at noon of that day, altho the official temperature record was but 38° F., and our breeding box still contained ice; and the activity of the larvae was the more remarkable when it is noted that a temperature of 0°F. had been recorded only six hours before. A number of adults later emerged from these galls, on dates between January 30 and February 10. Inquilines emerged from some of our galls early in the June (1927) following the emergence of the gall makers.
The insects of schulthessae closely resemble the insects of vicina, a Lake County variety which occurs on Q. Douglasii, but vicina galls are indistinguishable from those of echinus, while the galls of schulthessae are very distinct in form.
The bisexual generation of this variety is form atrata, for the first collection of which we were again indebted to Miss Schulthess' labors.
Cynips echinus variety schulthessae
bisexual form atrata, new form
Figures 26, 166, 183
FEMALE AND MALE.—With the first four or five segments of the antennae in the female rufous yellow, the entire antenna brownish black in the male; parapsidal grooves quite indistinct anteriorly; the scutellum irregularly and distinctly (tho not deeply) rugose; the foveal groove more or less smooth at bottom. Figures 166, 183.
GALL.—Resembling the galls of the other bisexual forms of the species, but more nearly spherical when fresh, with fewer irregularities and practically no spines on the surface; on the young twigs of Quercus durata (and probably Q. dumosa).
RANGE.—Probably as given for the agamic form of schulthessae (fig. 26). The bisexual form known definitely only from Kelseyville, California (P. Schulthess coll.), and from Paraiso Springs, California (in U.S. Nat. Mus.).
TYPES.—2 females, 1 male, and 6 galls, in the Kinsey collection. Labelled Kelseyville, California; May 1, 1925; Q. durata; P. Schulthess collector.
From the galls collected on May 1 (1925, at Kelseyville) adults emerged by May 13. This is the latest date we have for any of the bisexual insects of this species.
