Bassettia gemmae ASHMEAD, 1896, 1998

Melika, G & Abrahamson, WG, 2007, Review Of The Nearctic Gallwasp Species Of The Genus Bassettia Ashmead, 1887, With Description Of New Species (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini), Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 53 (2), pp. 131-148 : 139

Bassettia gemmae ASHMEAD, 1896

Bassettia gemmae ASHMEAD 1896: 128 . Female.

Type material examined – Three syntype females “ J. G. Barlow, Cadef. Mo. Apr. 27.83”, handwritten label “ Bassettia gemmae Ashm. ”, and red “Type No 3082 USNM ” in the USNM . 1 lectotype female and 2 paralectotype females bearing the above labels are here designated with a red label “ LECTOTYPE. Bassettia gemmae Ashmead. Design. G. Melika 1998 ”.

Diagnosis – Similar to the sexual female of B. ligni in that the metasoma is nearly as high as long in lateral view; however, in B. gemmae the mesoscutum is transversely dull rugose and the body is black while in the sexual female of B. ligni , the mesoscutum is delicately transversely rugo-reticulate, the head is brown and the mesosoma is dark brown to blackish brown.

Biology – Only the asexual female is known. Adults emerge in April. WELD (1926) captured adults ovipositing in buds of Q. alba L.

Distribution – USA: Missouri ( Ashmead 1896), Illinois, District of Columbia ( WELD 1926).