# Live Oak Apple Gall Wasp (*Amphibolips quercuspomiformis*) The Live Oak Apple Gall Wasp is a tiny insect that creates round galls on oak trees. These galls look like little apples and are homes for the wasp's babies! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Live Oak Apple Gall Wasp](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Live_Oak_Apple_Gall_Wasp_imported_from_iNaturalist_photo_117933461_on_8_November_2023.jpg&width=800) Photo: (c) Rebecca Johnson, some rights reserved (CC BY), CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Live_Oak_Apple_Gall_Wasp_imported_from_iNaturalist_photo_117933461_on_8_November_2023.jpg) ## Appearance The Live Oak Apple Gall Wasp is a tiny, dark-bodied insect, typically black or dark brown, with delicate, translucent wings. It has a compact, somewhat rounded body shape and short antennae. Its subtle appearance often resembles a small ant or fly. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Cynipidae - **Genus:** Amphibolips ## Interesting facts - Hundreds of these strange galls can sometimes grow on a single live oak tree at once! - Sometimes, other insects sneak into the gall to eat the wasp larvae or share their home! - The 'apple' galls are not fruit at all, but the tree's amazing reaction to the tiny wasp! - Tiny wasps spend most of their life eating and growing hidden inside the tree's gall! ## Special abilities - **Gall Architect:** Live Oak Apple Gall Wasp can cleverly trick oak trees into growing a protective 'apple' home for its young using special chemicals. - **Secret Hatching:** Live Oak Apple Gall Wasp larvae can develop safely hidden inside the oak tree's gall, protected from hungry predators. - **Mate-Free Miracles:** Some Live Oak Apple Gall Wasps can lay eggs that develop into new wasps without needing a male, a special type of reproduction. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 4-8 mm - **Size:** 2-4 mm - **Lifespan:** 7-14 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adult wasps drink nectar, while larvae eat oak tree tissues inside their protective galls. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat oak gall tissue, while adults drink nectar from flowers. - **Primary Foods:** oak tree tissues, nectar, plant sap - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Southern Live Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southern-live-oak) (*Quercus virginiana*) — for growing its protective larval galls. - **Depends on:** California Live Oak (*Quercus agrifolia*) — as a host tree for gall induction. - **Parasitizes:** Gall Wasp Parasitoid (*Ormyrus distinctus*) — its larvae feed on the gall wasp larvae inside the gall. ## 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. - [Symbiotic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/symbiotic): Describes a relationship between two different species where they live in close association, often benefiting one or both. - [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. - [Parasitic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/parasitic): This trait describes organisms that live on or in a host organism, obtaining nutrients at the host's expense. - [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 safe to look at the galls, but don't eat them! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Live Oak Apple 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 Live Oak Apple Gall Wasp's wingspan? 4-8 mm ### How big is Live Oak Apple Gall Wasp? 2-4 mm ### How long does Live Oak Apple Gall Wasp live? 7-14 days ### What does Live Oak Apple Gall Wasp eat? Adult wasps drink nectar, while larvae eat oak tree tissues inside their protective galls. ### Where is Live Oak Apple Gall Wasp usually found? Forests ### How does Live Oak Apple Gall Wasp hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Live Oak Apple Gall Wasp have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Hellyer County Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hellyer-county-park) — California, US · Park ## 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: [Live Oak Apple Gall Wasp: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/live-oak-apple-gall-wasp)