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California Gall Wasp

Andricus quercuscalifornicus

The California Gall Wasp is a tiny insect that makes galls on oak trees. These galls are like little homes for the wasp's babies, and they help protect them as they grow.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The California Gall Wasp is a tiny, dark-bodied insect, typically black or dark brown with clear, delicate wings. It has a compact, somewhat stout body shape that helps distinguish it from more slender wasps. Its small size makes it hard to spot.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilyCynipidaeGenusAndricus
California Gall Wasp
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California Gall Wasp

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Each big gall can contain many tiny wasp larvae munching safely inside.

If you shake a dried gall, you might hear the loose larva rattling inside!

The giant galls these wasps create can grow as big as a tennis ball!

These wasps cause the oak tree to create the gall, not the wasp itself!

Special abilities

Ability

Clone Maker

California Gall Wasp can sometimes have babies all by themselves without a mate, which helps them reproduce quickly.

Ability

Egg Planter

California Gall Wasp has a special needle-like tool to carefully lay eggs deep inside plant tissue, protecting them from danger.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
4-8 mm
Size
2-4 mm
Lifespan
365-730 days
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

Adults don't eat much, but baby wasps feast on their cozy plant home!

Age differences: Larvae eat the gall's plant tissue, while adults may sip nectar or water.

Primary Foods

  • Gall tissue
  • Oak sap
  • Nectar

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

It's best to look at these wasps from a distance and not touch them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is California Gall Wasp's wingspan?

4-8 mm

How big is California Gall Wasp?

2-4 mm

How long does California Gall Wasp live?

365-730 days

What does California Gall Wasp eat?

Adults don't eat much, but baby wasps feast on their cozy plant home!

Where is California Gall Wasp usually found?

Forests

How many legs does California Gall Wasp have?

6

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Where to spot

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