Diversity of the gall-inducing Cynipidae on <i>Quercus virgiliana</i> in Central Dalmatia, Croatia

The cynipid gall wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) are among the main insects associated with oaks of the genus Quercus . In the tissues of the host plant, they form galls, specialized structures that provide shelter and nutrients for the developing insect larvae. The aim of this study was to determine the oak gall wasp community of the species Quercus virgiliana . The galls were collected from oak buds, leaves, cupulae and catkins in the Lepenica region (Central Dalmatia) in the years 2023-2024. The collected galls were dissected and observed under a stereomicroscope to examine their morphological characteristics as well as larvae, pupae and/or adult wasps. With 17 recorded species, Andricus is by far the largest genus, followed by Neuroterus with 3 species, Cynips with 2 species and a single species from the genus Biorhiza . We identified 18 types of galls, with bud galls being the most common and conspicuous, followed by leaf, cupula and catkin galls.