Round Bullet Gall Wasp
Disholcaspis quercusglobulus
Developing galls exude a sweet liquid that attracts ants, which defend the gall against parasitic wasps in exchange for the sugar.
- Scientific name
- Disholcaspis quercusglobulus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Hymenoptera › Cynipidae › Disholcaspis
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Deciduous woodlands, edges, and suburban parks containing white oak species.
- Diet
- Larvae consume internal gall tissues produced by the host oak; adults feed minimally on nectar or plant fluids.
- Range
- Eastern United States, Southeastern Canada
- Size
- Adult length 3–5 mm; galls 8–15 mm in diameter
- Lifespan
- Adults live 1–2 weeks; total life cycle is approximately 1 year
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, loss of mature oak trees, and extensive parasitoid insect pressure.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to humans. These tiny wasps cannot sting or bite and pose no danger. The woody galls found on oak branches can be safely handled and observed at any distance.
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Photo: Andy Deans, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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