Cynips cornifex Hartig 1843

Cynips cornifex Hartig, 1843

Host plants. Israel: Q. boissieri. Elsewhere: Q. pubescens, Q. petraea, Q. infectoria.

Life history. Known only from the leaf galls of the asexual generation, which are bilaterally flat projections, 5–15 mm long, usually with a blunt tip, on the underside of the leaf (Fig. 29). They are soft and green when young, turning hard and reddish-brown when mature.

Phenology. In Israel, viable galls were found in November but no adults were reared. In Europe, galls of this species begin to develop in June, drop to the ground with the leaves when mature, and the adults emerge in April of the following year.

Distribution. Israel: Very rare, observed only once on a single tree on Mt. Hermon at 1780 m.a.s.l. Elsewhere: Widespread and locally abundant from southern France to Iran.