British oak galls / by Edward T. Connold.

  • Edward Thomas Connold
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: British oak galls / by Edward T. Connold. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    74/266 page 50
    Andricus aestivalis, Griraud. (Plate V, div. A.) Andricus sestivalis, Mayr, Cameron, Mosley. English name of gall.—“ The Cup Q-all.” Position of gall.—On staminate catkins of Q. cerris. Manner of growth.—Sessile, glabrous, gregarious, conglomerate. Colours.—Pale green, greenish-yellow, brown. Average dimensions of a mature specimen.—Height, 10 mm. ; breadth, 8 mm. May be sought during the months of May to July. Growth is complete by the end of June. The typical condition of the gall is bilocular, but unilarval. The larva pupates in the gall. The imago emerges during June and July. Parasites, Nos. 14, 24, 180. Inquilines, Nos. 8, 4. (These figures correspond with those in the list at end of volume, where the names of the insects and their authors’ names are given in full.) This gall appears to have escaped the notice of British collectors. I am not aware of any record of it being found in Britain. It is so distinctive that no collector could fail to identify it. Probably it may be discovered, especially as A. glandium has been found in acorns of the same oak (see p. 59). Cameron captured a female insect at Loch Lomond, which agreed with a type sent him by Professor Mayr (‘ Brit. Phyto. Hymen.,’ vol. iv, p. 107). He does not state, however, if he found any of the galls. The galls occur in numbers of 20-40, conglomerated on the catkin stalk, and while growing somewhat resemble a mulberry. The size of the clusters varies considerably. Some measure 85 mm. in length and 75 mm. in girth. They are more or less pressed into one another at the point of attachment to the catkin stalk by reason of their number, but they are quite free from each other at their distal extremity. The stalk becomes twisted and thickened. A single gall is about 10 mm. high, 8 mm. in breadth, pointed at the base, and opening out at the top into a cup shape. It consists of two parts, an outer case and
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