Banded Bullet Gall Wasp
Kokkocynips imbricariae
The galls induced by this wasp are rich in tannins and were historically used to make high-quality, permanent iron gall ink.
- Scientific name
- Kokkocynips imbricariae
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Hymenoptera › Cynipidae › Kokkocynips
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Oak forests, woodlands, and suburban areas with mature oak trees.
- Diet
- Larvae consume nutrient-rich plant tissue inside the gall; adults feed minimally on nectar or water.
- Range
- North America, United States
- Size
- Adults: 2-4 mm; Galls: 10-15 mm in diameter.
- Lifespan
- Up to 1 year (mostly as larva inside the gall); adults live only 1-2 weeks.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Deforestation, loss of mature oak host trees, and broad-spectrum pesticide applications.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. These tiny wasps cannot sting humans and are completely safe to observe closely. If one lands on you, simply blow gently to encourage it to fly away.
Kokkocynips imbricariae , the banded bullet gall wasp , is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae.
Photo: Antoine Guiguet, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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