Gall of the Beaked Twig Gall Wasp on Scrub Oak
This is a stunning gall of the Beaked Twig Gall Wasp (Disholcaspis plumbella) in the family Cynipidae, Hymenoptera growing on Scrub Oak (Quercus berberidifolia, Fagaceae). These galls are monothalamous which means they contain just one wasp larva,and I believe there is just a single generation. The pointed beak is distinctive. I don't think of these galls as plant pests - they are more like decorations! I'll be looking for more galls as we move towards winter. They nicely fill the gap between summer insects (and spiders) and winter mushrooms as subjects to photograph. (San Marcos Pass, 25 October 2019)
Gall of the Beaked Twig Gall Wasp on Scrub Oak
This is a stunning gall of the Beaked Twig Gall Wasp (Disholcaspis plumbella) in the family Cynipidae, Hymenoptera growing on Scrub Oak (Quercus berberidifolia, Fagaceae). These galls are monothalamous which means they contain just one wasp larva,and I believe there is just a single generation. The pointed beak is distinctive. I don't think of these galls as plant pests - they are more like decorations! I'll be looking for more galls as we move towards winter. They nicely fill the gap between summer insects (and spiders) and winter mushrooms as subjects to photograph. (San Marcos Pass, 25 October 2019)