Page 2 · Rose Gall Wasps (Cynipidae) - 276 Species, Identification & Facts

Sausage Flower Gall Wasp

Melikaiella congregata

Identification: Larvae induce sausage-like catkin galls on Quercus agrifolia (coast live oak) in the spring. Gall is known to produce honeydew

Melikaiella tumifica

Larvae develop in petiole swellings on leaves of red, black, and scarlet oak ( Quercus rubra, velutina, coccinea ).

Neuroterus aliceae

Identification: Gall. Brown fluffy leaf galls, consisting of an aggregated group of larval chambers ≥ 5 mm across, on midrib on the underside of leaf. Covered in a dense, somewhat woolly, coat of reddish-brown hairs. Similar in structure to Andricus

Split Twig Gall Wasp

Neuroterus asymmetricus

Identification: Larvae form integral stem galls on oaks in the "intermediate" oak group on the west coast. The intermediate oak group includes: Quercus chrysolepis (canyon live oak), Q. palmeri (Palmer's oak), Q. vacciniifolia (huckleberry oak). The

Succulent Gall Wasp

Neuroterus fragilis

Identification: Ron Russo: "These galls are always succulent looking and not cranial, twisted, hairy as in N. washingtonensis ." Host plants include: Quercus durata , Quercus berberidifolia (and likely other scrub oaks), Quercus douglasii , and Querc

Neuroterus quercusbaccarum

Small (3mm), dark wasps. Asexual females may be abundant during spring emergence. If reared directly from the gall (please include photo of gall) be aware that it may be a parasitoid or inquiline - always check. It must be keyed out and detailed phot

Neuroterus quercusverrucarum

Causes fuzzy, white to brown galls, about 2.5 mm across, on the undersides of leaves of oaks in the white oak group, e.g. white oak ( Quercus alba ), swamp white oak ( Q. bicolor ), overcup oak ( Q. lyrata ), bur oak ( Q. macrocarpa ), dwarf chinquap

Neuroterus saltarius

Forms galls on bur oak ( Quercus macrocarpa ) and swamp white oak ( Q. bicolor ). "After galls drop in June they jump about on the ground for some time as do the related species, Neuroterus saltatorius (Edwards) in Calif." Adults emerge from galls in

California Jumping Gall Wasp

Neuroterus saltatorius

Identification: Summer/fall unisexual galls of this species occur on the underside of valley, blue, scrub, and Oregon oak leaves. Spring bisexual generation galls are integral leaf galls. Periodic movements of the larvae after the unisexual generatio

Paracraspis insolens

Identification: Galls develop on Quercus chrysolepis (canyon live oak) in California.

Philonix fulvicollis

Causes galls on the undersides of leaves in the white oak group: globular, 5-8 mm, covered with gray felt, one-celled. Galls with parasitoids or inquilines may be smaller, more sparsely haired, and less spherical; see examples (including the wasps th

Philonix gigas

Identification: Weld's original description of gall: "Globular, 15-20 mm. in diameter, produced on the under side of leaves and dropping to the ground in the fall. In appearance and structure they resemble the much smaller galls of Philonix nigra (Gi

Phylloteras sigma

Forms galls on Quercus alba and Q. muehlenbergii leaves. "Always on under side of leaf near the edge on saplings 8-10 feet high. . . Galls drop in late Oct. An adult was found alive in cage on Mar. 7 the second spring."

Sphaeroteras pulchripennis

Identification: Induces small, brown, globular galls on leaves of Quercus arizonica, grisea, oblongifolia, rugosa, toumeyi, turbinella, and Quercus x undulata. They usually occur in rows next to the leaf midrib .

Synergus gallaepomiformis

Length 1.5-3.5mm. Head black, except lower face which usually yellow to orange red or red; mesosoma black, antenna and legs entirely yellow or yellow-red. Metasoma black dorsally and brown laterally. Wing veins distinct, brown. Body with sparse white

Trigonaspis polita

Forms detachable galls on leaves of post oak ( Quercus stellata ), Chapman oak ( Q. chapmanii ), and white oak ( Q. alba ): "Reddish oak apple, not spotted, 6-19 mm. in dia., in numbers on both sides of leaf in fall. Adults emerge the next spring Mar

Oak Fig Gall Wasp

Trigonaspis quercusforticorne

Causes stem galls on white oak, chestnut oak, and dwarf chestnut oak ( Quercus alba, Q. prinus, Q. prinoides ).

Xanthoteras radicola

"Found at the base of Q. alba that was heavily infested with T. quercusforticorne, starting to rot which is consistent with the literature ... the galls that I found were seemingly slightly underground. There was a bit of leaf litter and other debris

Xestophanes brevitarsis

Xestophanes brevitarsis is a gall wasp that causes galls to form on Tormentil ( Potentilla erecta ) and Trailing Tormentil ( Potentilla anglica ). The galls are seen more often than the adult. Galls are usually found on the aerial stem or sometimes a

Xestophanes potentillae

The larvae of the gall wasp Xestophanes potentillae causes galls on the stem or petioles of Creeping Cinquefoil (Potentillia reptans) . The galls can be found very low down close to, or below soil level. Several galls can often been seen on the same

Zapatella quercusphellos

Causes stem swellings (galls) on Quercus ilicifolia, Q. imbricaria, Q. falcata, Q. cinerea, and Q. myrtifolia , containing 1-4 cells; club-shaped when terminal. Green and fleshy in May, becoming woody later.

Zopheroteras compressum

On red oak ( Quercus rubra ), produces a white, subglobular gall on the undersides of leaves in fall, just as the leaves are turning. The type gall is 2.7 by 1.8 by 1.8 mm, tan, and slightly wrinkled.

Zopheroteras guttatum

Causes spherical, 1.45-2.5 mm galls, with purple spots, single on a secondary vein on underside of Quercus palustris, imbricaria , or texana leaf, in fall. The images placed in this section show upperside galls on Q. phellos and rubra . These species

Zopheroteras sphaerula

Larvae develop in galls on leaves of red oak ( Quercus rubra ): "Nearly spherical, greenish or tinged with red, on upper or lower side of leaf, single or 3-4 in a row, dropping in Oct. Adults emerged Mar. 13 and Apr. 6 the next spring."