Beaked Twig Gall Wasp
Burnettweldia plumbella
This record describes Burnettweldia plumbella (species). Recorded family: Cynipidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Larvae make galls in the late spring and summer on blue ( Quercus douglasii ), scrub ( Q. berberidifolia ), shrub live ( Q. turbinella ), and leather ( Q. durata ) oaks. Galls are up to 15mm in diameter and are red or green with yellow spots. With the exception of some Q. turbinella galls, the galls have a curved beak. Kinsey's original 1920 description as Disholcapsis plumbella , with accompanying Figs. 34-36 . Parasitoids:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Cynipoidea
- Family
- Cynipidae (Gall Wasps)
- Tribe
- Cynipini
- Genus
- Burnettweldia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Burnettweldia plumbella. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Beaked Twig Gall Wasp (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joyce Gross; Additional contributions by Aaron Schusteff , ceiseman