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Cherry gall

Cherry gall ©Brian Eversham

Cherry gall wasp

Scientific name: Cynips quercusfolii
Living up to its name, the cherry gall wasp produces growths, or 'galls', on oak leaves that look like red cherries. Inside the gall the larvae of the wasp feed on the host tissues but cause little damage.

Species information

Statistics

Diameter of gall: 2cm

Conservation status

Common.

When to see

July to October

About

The cherry gall wasp, cynips quercusfolii, is a tiny gall wasp that causes growths, or 'galls', on the undersides of oak leaves. The grub remains in the gall after leaf-fall, emerging as an adult wasp in winter. This asexual generation will lay its eggs on the oak tree trunk, which eventually mature to the sexual generation; this generation mates and produces the more obvious galls.

How to identify

The cherry gall wasp produces small, round, red-and-green galls on the undersides of oak leaves.

Distribution

Widespread.

Habitats

Did you know?

Female gall wasps lay their eggs on their host plants, which causes the plants to swell up into characteristically odd shapes. The larvae feed on the plant tissue inside the galls.