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Issue: Vol. 5785 No. 1: 27 Mar. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-03-27
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5785.1.1
Page range: 1-43
Abstract views: 67
PDF downloaded: 0

Five new Amphibolips Reinhard, 1865 (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae) species from western and southern Mexico: expanding the diversity of oak gall wasps and revealing the largest oak apple gall in the Americas

Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Morelia; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (ENES-Morelia; UNAM). Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701; Ex-Hacienda de San José de la Huerta; 58190; Morelia; Michoacán; México.; Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas; Unidad de Posgrado; Edificio D; 1° Piso; Circuito de Posgrados; Ciudad Universitaria; Coyoacán; C.P. 04510; CDMX; México.
Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Morelia; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (ENES-Morelia; UNAM). Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701; Ex-Hacienda de San José de la Huerta; 58190; Morelia; Michoacán; México.; Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica; ENES-Morelia; UNAM. Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701; Ex-Hacienda de San José de la Huerta; 58190; Morelia; Michoacán; México.
Institute of Ecology and Evolution; Ashworth Laboratories; University of Edinburgh; Edinburgh; UK.
Herbario de la Facultad de Ciencias; Departamento de Biología Comparada; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Ciudad de México; México.
Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC); Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva; C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2; ES-28006 Madrid; Spain.
Hymenoptera Cynipini Lobatae Oaxaca Quercus taxonomy Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt

Abstract

Five new species of oak gall wasps of the genus Amphibolips Reinhard, 1865 (Cynipidae, Cynipini) are described from Mexico. Amphibolips megalokokka Nieves-Aldrey & Castillejos-Lemus sp. nov. and Amphibolips oyamai Castillejos-Lemus & Nieves-Aldrey sp. nov. from the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB) exhibit unique morphological characteristics within the genus, particularly in gall morphology. Three additional species, Amphibolips zapoteco Nieves-Aldrey & Castillejos-Lemus sp. nov., Amphibolips idiopteryx Nieves-Aldrey & Castillejos-Lemus sp. nov. and Amphibolips darioi Castillejos-Lemus & Nieves-Aldrey sp. nov., are described from Oaxaca State. These Oaxacan species show remarkable morphological similarity while providing important insights into the relationships among species within the Oaxacan clade. Based on a prior phylogenetic study using ultraconserved elements, we describe these five new species with supporting evidence from both morphology and molecular data. We also examined the great morphological variation in Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt species, including both generations of one species, and discusses species richness, phylogenetic relationships, and taxonomic challenges within the genus.

 

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How to Cite

Castillejos-Lemus, D.E., Oyama, K., Zhang, Y.M., Valencia-A, S. & Nieves-Aldrey, J.L. (2026) Five new Amphibolips Reinhard, 1865 (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae) species from western and southern Mexico: expanding the diversity of oak gall wasps and revealing the largest oak apple gall in the Americas. Zootaxa, 5785 (1), 1–43. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5785.1.1