Updated checklist of Sicilian Cynipidae (Hymenoptera) forming leaf-galls on Quercus spp. and illustrated key of their galls.

Abstract

Chilaspis nitida (Giraud), previously known from northern Italy, is recorded for the first time in Sicily. We also report the presence of five species found more than a century ago in Sicily, but later overlooked and not reported in the Checklist of the Italian Fauna: Andricus gallaeurnaeformis (Boyer de Fonscolombe), Neuroterus tricolor (Hartig), Neuroterus albipes (Schenck), Plagiotrochus quercusilicis (Fabricius) and Trigonaspis synaspis (Hartig). Information about their distribution, biology and gall morphology is reported. We furthermore provide the check list and an illustrated key, based on gall morphology, for all Sicilian species of Cynipidae inducing galls on Quercus spp. leaves.