Golden Gall Wasp
Heteroecus melanoderma
This record describes Heteroecus melanoderma (species). Recorded family: Cynipidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
This wasp galls Quercus chrysolepis (canyon live oak) and Quercus vacciniifolia (huckleberry oak) in California. Note that the hairs are shorter than those on Heteroecus dasydactyli . One way to tell the difference between the two types of galls, if you aren't sure, is to rub off the hairs. They easily rub off of H. dasydactyli leaving a shiny, smooth gall surface. They do not easily rub off of H. melanoderma .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Cynipoidea
- Family
- Cynipidae (Gall Wasps)
- Tribe
- Cynipini
- Genus
- Heteroecus
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 Heteroecus melanoderma. 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 Golden Gall Wasp (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joyce Gross