Leaf Galls with the Same Morphology Induced on the Same Plant Species by Two Species of Latuspina (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), with a Description of a New Species

A new species in the genus Latuspina (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) that induces galls on the leaves of Quercus variabilis Blume (Fagaceae) in China is described here as Latuspina jinzhaiensis Abe, Ide, Su, and Zhu, new species. The sexual generation gall of the new species is indistinguishable from that produced by L. abemakiphila Ide and Abe, which is induced on leaves of the same oak species in Japan. However, these two cynipid species can be distinguished based on the morphological characteristics of the propodeum of adult wasps. Moreover, differences in the partial sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene (18–19 of 658 bp) supports the morphological distinction between these two species. Although congeneric gall-inducing cynipids, as well as other gall-inducing insects such as gall midges, can typically be distinguished based solely on gall characteristics (e.g., shape and position on the plant) and host plant species, these two Latuspina species are an exception. Since the asexual generations of both species are currently unknown, finding asexual generation galls and adults in the future is considered necessary.