Smooth Spangle Gall - Neuroterus albipes

Description

The agamic (asexual) galls are found on the underside of Oak leaves and are thin and flat in shape, hairless with a slightly raised rim, measuring up to 5mm across. The colour is generally cream or pale green, sometimes with a pinky-red rim or blotches. They are rarely found in large numbers on a single leaf.

The sexual galls are small woody galls usually found on a leaf, often in an indentation. Occasionally they are on catkins.

Identification difficulty

Agamic gall Sexual gall Adult

Habitat

On the leaves of oak.

When to see it

Mature galls fall from the leaves in autumn and the adult insects emerge in early spring.

Life History

These galls are caused by the asexual generation of the wasp. The sexual generation form tiny egg-shaped galls between leaf nodes in the spring.

UK Status

Common.

VC55 Status

Not known.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

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Species profile

Common names
Smooth Spangle Gall
Species group:
Bees, Wasps, Ants
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Hymenoptera
Family:
Cynipidae
Records on NatureSpot:
88
First record:
09/09/2011 (Gould, David)
Last record:
31/10/2023 (Graves, Hazel)

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