Amphibolips zacatecaensis Melika & Pujade-Villar

Amphibolips zacatecaensis Melika & Pujade-Villar, 2011 .In Melika et al., 2011: 48

Type material examined. HOLOTYPE. ♀ (deposited in JP-V col., UB) with the following labels: “ MEXICO, Monte Escobedo, Zacatecas ” (white label), “ Q. eduardi, (31.v.2010) ext. 31.v.10. leg. J. Pujade-Villar ” (white la-bel). “ Holotype Amphibolips zacatecaensis Pujade-Villar & Melika 2011 ” (red label).

Additional material. Deposited in UB with the following labels: “S120, MEXICO, Las Cuevitas, Monte Esc-obedo, Zacatecas, (25.x.2011) only galls (UB), Ex Quercus sp.” .

Diagnosis. This species is characterized by a completely infuscate forewing with infuscate anterior band; basal half of radial cell highly infuscate; R1, Rs and 2r veins not traceable through infuscate band or hardly visible. Scutellar foveae with distinct median carina and transversal carinae extending from the median carina (Fig. 11K). Most closely resembles A. nassa (see Diagnosis to A. nassa). The gall resembles that of A. dampfi, but in A. zacatecaensis the internal tissue is dense and light brown while it is soft, cotton-like, white to rosy near the larval chamber in A. dampfi .

Gall (Figs 15 C–D). Galls on buds, rather large, with maximum diameter 50–68 mm, subglobose, gradually tapering to a tip at apex; outer shell thin and fragile, usually smooth, sometimes wrinkled or rugose; internal tissue soft, light brown and spongious, but consistent with central larval chamber, which is around 5 mm in diameter.

Host. Quercus eduardi .

Biology. Only females are known. The mature galls were collected in late May; adults emerged soon after field collection.

Distribution. Mexico: Zacatecas State.