A very small wasp, each species causing a characteristic gall on its host plant, typically the oak; one or more larvae develops inside each gall. The life-cycle is complex, often involving an alternation between sexual and asexual generations. (Order: Hymenoptera. Family: Cynipidae, c.2000 species.)
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Neuroterus albipes, parthenogenetic generation females, from galls on Quercus robur |
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Gall wasps (Cynipidae), also called Gallflies, are a family of the order Hymenoptera and are classified with the Apocrita suborder of wasps in the superfamily Cynipoidea.
The larvae of most gall wasps develop in characteristic plant galls they induce themselves, however many species are also inquilines of other gall wasps, such as those of the genus Synergus.
The plant galls mostly develop directly after the female insect lays the eggs. One of the most well-known of these oak gall wasps is the common oak gall wasp (Cynips quercusfolii), which induces characteristic two-centimeter in diameter, spherical galls on the underside of oak leaves.
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Andricus fecundatrix parthenogenetic generation gall |
Andricus quercuscalicis parthenogenetic generation gall |
Andricus quercuscalicis parthenogenetic generation gall |
Neuroterus quercusbaccarum sexual generation gall |
These turn reddish in the fall and are commonly known as oak apples. On the buds of young oak twigs, one can often find the hard-shelled galls of Andricus kollari and Andricus quercustozae.
The galls of the rose gall wasp (Diplolepis rosae) are also distinctive and are known as bedeguars.
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