DESCRIPTION: These very common galls are green to red in colour and made up of a series of uneven ridges with the amount of contortions dependant on the number of grubs competing for space within. The level of attack from the insect varies each year and galls may entirely disfigure both acorn and cup. The wasp involved needs 2 species of Oak in which to breed with the sexual gall found on Turkey Oak and agamic stage (sexual reproduction without the unifying of male/female cells - in this instance all female) on various Oak species. DISTRIBUTION: Common. HABITAT: On the acorns of mainly Pendunculate Oak and occasionally on Sessile Oak and other species. |
