# 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.

- **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.

## About

Kokkocynips imbricariae , the banded bullet gall wasp , is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/e93447ed-82a2-4323-9f4f-4601abd1bcf6
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1204120
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokkocynips imbricariae
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/218100686/medium.jpg (Antoine Guiguet, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.