Amphibolips michoacaensis Nieves-Aldrey & Maldonado

Amphibolips michoacaensis Nieves-Aldrey & Maldonado

Amphibolips michoacaensis Nieves-Aldrey & Maldonado, 2012. In Nieves-Aldrey et al., 2012: 24–26.

Type material examined. HOLOTYPE. ♀ deposited in MNCN (Cat. nº 2251; Code: 89211). MEXICO, Micho-acán, Cuenca del Cuitzeo, Umécuaro, N 19° 32´55.4´´ W 101° 15´37.2´´, 2140 m; Ex Q. castanea, (10.iv.2009) x.2009, leg. Y. Maldonado. Paratypes (deposited in MNCN): 2♂ showing the same data as the holotype; 1♀ with the same data as the holotype, but emerged 04.vi.2008; 2♀ collected at Jesús del Monte, 2133 m, Ex Q. castanea, (21.iv.2009) v.2009, leg. Y. Maldonado (Codes: 89212–89216).

Additional material. MEX 081, Zacatecas, Monte Escobedo, Laguna de Garboa, N 22º 16’ 57.74’’ W103º 33’ 05.28’’, Q. emoryi, (24.v.11) 10.vi.11: 1♂ & 1♀ (UB), Cabral, Treto, Landa & Carrillo leg.

Diagnosis. This species is characterized by smooth scutellar foveae with a strong median carina completely dividing the foveae (Fig. 11F); posteromedian depression interrupted by transversal carina (Fig. 5D, posterior view), depression not reaches posterior margin of mesoscutellum. Closely resembles A. jaliscensis (see diagnosis to A. jaliscensis). The large globular gall is similar to other species, with or without mottled surface (Nieves-Aldrey et al. 2012: Figs 20A–B); impossible to differentiate from A. hidalgoensis and A. jaliscensis but differs from A. quercuspomiformis comb. nov., A. oaxacae, A. tarasco, A. kinseyi n. sp. and A. bassae n. sp. by the deformable surface at finger pressure because of the relatively soft parenchyma in A. hidalgoensis, A. jaliscensis and A. michoacaensis.

Gall. A subglobose large bud gall, up to 48 mm in diameter, outer shell thin but resistant, uniformly pale green, turning into brown when dry. The gall is monolocular, with a spongy internal tissue, filling the entire gall. The larval cell is rounded (Nieves-Aldrey et al. 2012: Figs 20A–B).

Host. Quercus castanea, Q. emoryi.

Biology. Only the sexual generation is known. Galls were collected between April and May; adults emerged between May and October of the same year of collection.

Distribution. Mexico: Michoacan and Zacatecas states.

Remarks. Nieves-Aldrey et al. (2012) described the males with 12 flagellomeres, however, the antenna has 13 flagellomeres (type specimens examined). This species shares several characters with A. jaliscensis, including the forewing pattern, that were originally used as diagnostic (Nieves-Aldrey et al. 2012), and the gall morphology is also similar between the two species (see corresponding remarks under A. jaliscenis).