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Red Cone Gall Wasp
ExploreInsects
Red Cone Gall Wasp
Feron kingi
The Red Cone Gall Wasp is a tiny insect that makes special galls on plants. These galls look like little red cones and are homes for the wasp's babies. They are fascinating to see in nature!
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The Red Cone Gall Wasp is a tiny insect, typically dark brown to black, with clear wings. Its most striking feature isn't the wasp itself, but the bright red, cone-shaped galls it creates, which grow on the underside of oak leaves.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilyCynipidaeGenusAndricus
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Each tiny gall can house just one wasp larva, safe inside its leafy, custom-built home.
The gall protects the developing wasp larva better than any fortress from predators!
The red "cones" you see on oak leaves are actually mini nurseries for baby wasps!
These wasps are so small, many can fit comfortably on the head of a pin!
Special abilities
Ability
Gall Architect
Red Cone Gall Wasp can chemically induce oak trees to grow specialized, protective galls for its larvae, providing both shelter and food.
Ability
Hidden Nursery
Red Cone Gall Wasp larvae have specialized saliva that tricks oak leaves into forming a safe, nutrient-rich home where they can develop unseen.
Ability
Plant Wizard
Red Cone Gall Wasp can manipulate plant growth with its eggs, creating a unique red cone structure for its young that looks like part of the plant.
Measurements & details
- Size
- 2-4 mm
- Lifespan
- 14-30 days
- Leg Count
- 6
- Colony Size
- 0
Diet & Feeding
Adults may sip nectar, but the larvae are dedicated vegetarians, feasting on oak leaf tissue within their gall.
Age differences: Larvae consume specialized plant tissue within the gall; adults may occasionally feed on nectar or honeydew.
Primary Foods
- Oak leaf tissue
- Plant sap
- Nectar
Foraging Method
- Null
Ecological connections
depends on
Red Oak
Quercus rubra
induces gall formation on its leaves for larval development.
parasitizes
Gall Wasp Parasitoid
Torymus bedeguaris
lays eggs on the gall wasp larvae, consuming them from within the gall.
eats
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
forages for gall wasp larvae by pecking open galls.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Keystone Species
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Miniature
Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
It's best to look at insects from a distance and not touch them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is Red Cone Gall Wasp?
2-4 mm
How long does Red Cone Gall Wasp live?
14-30 days
What does Red Cone Gall Wasp eat?
Adults may sip nectar, but the larvae are dedicated vegetarians, feasting on oak leaf tissue within their gall.
Where is Red Cone Gall Wasp usually found?
Forests
How does Red Cone Gall Wasp hunt?
Null
How many legs does Red Cone Gall Wasp have?
6
How large are Red Cone Gall Wasp colonies?
0
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