''Philonix'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of oak gall wasps in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Cynipidae Gall wasps, also wikt:gallfly#Usage notes, traditionally called gallflies, are hymenopterans of the family Cynipidae in the wasp superfamily Cynipoidea. Their common name comes from the galls they induce on plants for larval development. About 1 ...

.Poole, R.W. & P. Gentili, 1996. Hymenoptera, Mecoptera, Megaloptera, Neuroptera, Raphidioptera, Trichoptera. ''Nomina Insecta Nearctica: A Check List of the Insects of North America.'' Vol 2. Melika, G. & Abrahamson, W.G. (2002) Review of the World Genera of Oak Cynipid Wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini). ''In:'' Melika, G. & Thuróczy, C. (Eds.), ''Parasitic Wasps: Evolution, Systematics, Biodiversity and Biological Control''. ''International Symposium: “Parasitic Hymenoptera: Taxonomy and Biological Control” (14–17 May 2001, Kõszeg, Hungary).'' Agroinform, Budapest, pp. 150–190. Species in this genus are only known from Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The

larvae A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect developmental biology, development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typical ...

of ''Philonix'' wasps induce

galls Galls (from the Latin , 'oak-apple') or ''cecidia'' (from the Greek , anything gushing out) are a kind of swelling growth on the external tissues of plants. Plant galls are abnormal outgrowths of plant tissues, similar to benign tumors or wart ...

white oaks ''Quercus'' subgenus ''Quercus'' is one of the two subgenera into which the genus ''Quercus'' was divided in a 2017 classification (the other being subgenus ''Cerris''). It contains about 190 species divided among five sections. It may be called ...

that are typically spherical, soft and fleshy. Galls are usually formed on the underside of leaves. Adult wasps are similar in appearance to species in the genus '' Acraspis''. Many gall wasps have alternate sexual and

asexual Asexual or Asexuals may refer to: *Asexual reproduction **Asexual reproduction in starfish *Asexuality, the lack of sexual attraction to anyone or lack of interest in or desire for sexual activity. **Gray asexuality, the spectrum between asexualit ...

generations, but this has not been documented in ''Philonix''. The genus was first named and described by

Asa Fitch Asa Fitch (February 24, 1809 – April 8, 1879) was a natural historian and entomologist from Salem, New York. Biography Asa Fitch was born at Fitch's Point, Salem, New York on February 24, 1809. His early studies were of both natural history ...

in 1859. The following species are recognised in the genus ''Philonix'': * '' P. fulvicollis'' Fitch, 1859 * '' P. gigas'' Weld, 1922 * '' P. insulensis'' ( Kinsey, 1936) * '' P. lanaeglobuli'' ( Ashmead, 1887) * '' P. latigenae'' (Kinsey, 1936)

References

Cynipidae Gall-inducing insects Oak galls Insects described in 1859 Insects of Canada Hymenoptera of North America Taxa named by Asa Fitch Hymenoptera genera {{apocrita-stub