<i>Andricus cydoniae</i> Giraud, 1859 Junior Synonym of <i>Cynips conifica</i> Hartig, 1843, as Experimentally Demonstrated (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini)

Abstract

We demonstrated the life cycle closure of Cynips conifica Hartig, 1843 (presently Andricus conificus), previously supposed on the basis of molecular data, and the identity of the sexual generation, through laboratory experiments. As a consequence, Andricus cydoniae Giraud, 1859 became a junior synonym of A. conificus (Hartig, 1843). We provide illustrations and a diagnosis for adults and galls, observations on biology, and information on distribution. Moreover, as sexual galls of A. conificus cannot be distinguished from those of Andricus multiplicatus, a detailed comparison between sexual galls and adults of these two species is reported.

Keywords

• oak gallwasp
• heterogonic life cycle
• biology
• sexual generation
• taxonomy
• morphology