Round Bullet Gall Wasp
ExploreInsects
Round Bullet Gall Wasp
Disholcaspis quercusglobulus
The Round Bullet Gall Wasp is a tiny insect that makes round, ball-like galls on oak trees. These galls are special homes for the wasp's babies, making them safe and cozy.
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The Round Bullet Gall Wasp is a tiny, dark brown to black insect with a shiny, robust body and clear wings. It has a slightly humped back and is often mistaken for a small fly due to its size, but possesses a distinct wasp-like shape.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilyCynipidaeGenusDisholcaspis
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Baby wasps feast and grow inside their cozy plant home, totally safe from many hungry predators.
Many other tiny insects secretly live inside the wasp's gall home without an invitation!
Some years, only girl wasps are born, and they don't even need a dad to have their own babies!
The 'bullet' galls are super strong and can stay on oak trees for years after the wasp leaves!
Special abilities
Ability
Plant Architect
Round Bullet Gall Wasps can trigger oak trees to grow a protective woody 'bullet' gall for their young, manipulating plant growth.
Ability
Clone Power
Some generations of Round Bullet Gall Wasps can reproduce without a male, creating genetic copies of themselves to multiply quickly.
Ability
Chemical Command
The Round Bullet Gall Wasp injects specific chemicals into oak trees that forces cells to grow a specialized home for its larvae.
Measurements & details
- Wingspan
- 4-8 mm
- Size
- 2-4 mm
- Lifespan
- 14-30 days
- Leg Count
- 6
Diet & Feeding
Larvae munch on oak tissue inside their gall homes, while adults might sip sweet nectar.
Age differences: Larvae feed on gall tissue, but adults may forage for nectar.
Primary Foods
- Oak plant tissue
- Nectar
Ecological connections
depends on
White Oak
Quercus alba
for forming protective galls on its twigs and branches.
parasitizes
Torymid Wasp
Torymus advenus
by laying its eggs inside the bullet gall of the wasp.
eaten by
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
as birds often peck open galls to eat the larvae inside.
shelters
Inquiline Gall Wasp
Synergus lignicola
lives within the oak gall created by the bullet gall wasp.
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.
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
Don't touch the galls without asking an adult, as they are homes for tiny creatures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Round Bullet Gall Wasp's wingspan?
4-8 mm
How big is Round Bullet Gall Wasp?
2-4 mm
How long does Round Bullet Gall Wasp live?
14-30 days
What does Round Bullet Gall Wasp eat?
Larvae munch on oak tissue inside their gall homes, while adults might sip sweet nectar.
Where is Round Bullet Gall Wasp usually found?
Forests
How many legs does Round Bullet Gall Wasp have?
6
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