Crystalline Gall Wasp
Feron crystallinum
This record describes Feron crystallinum (species). Recorded family: Cynipidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Cynipoidea
- Family
- Cynipidae (Gall Wasps)
- Tribe
- Cynipini
- Genus
- Feron
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The summer/fall unisexual generation galls occur on the underside of leaves of blue, scrub, leather, and Oregon oaks. Galls often appear in clumps, appearing as one big hairy mass on the leaf. The spring bisexual generation galls are somewhat similar but smaller and appear individually.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Feron crystallinum. 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 Crystalline Gall Wasp (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joyce Gross; Additional contributions by mileszhang