# 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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Forests ![California Gall Wasp](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/167521004/medium.jpeg) Photo: Cricket Raspet, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/167521004) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Cynipidae - **Genus:** Andricus ## 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 - **Clone Maker:** California Gall Wasp can sometimes have babies all by themselves without a mate, which helps them reproduce quickly. - **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 - **Depends on:** [Valley Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/valley-oak) (*Quercus lobata*) — creates galls on twigs for larvae - **Depends on:** [Coast Live Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coast-live-oak) (*Quercus agrifolia*) — creates galls on twigs for larvae - **Parasitizes:** Gall Wasp Parasitoid (*Torymus splendidus*) — lays eggs inside the gall wasp larvae - **Eaten by:** [Steller's Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stellers-jay) (*Cyanocitta stelleri*) — eats galls containing larvae ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low It's best to look at these wasps from a distance and not touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify California Gall Wasp? Compare the antennae, wings, waist, body hair and legs. Yellow and black stripes show up on bees, wasps and harmless mimics alike. Bee & Wasp Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jasper-ridge-biological-preserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Bush's Pasture Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bushs-pasture-park) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Columbia State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/columbia-state-historic-park) — California, US · State Park - [Locke](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/locke) — California, US · Historic District - [Oregon Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/oregon-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Micke Grove Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/micke-grove-zoo) — California, US · Zoo [View all places to see California Gall Wasp](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/california-gall-wasp) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [California Gall Wasp: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-gall-wasp)