# 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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Round Bullet Gall Wasp](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Disholcaspis_quercusglobulus.jpg&width=800) Photo: Alexis Garretson, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Disholcaspis_quercusglobulus.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Cynipidae - **Genus:** Disholcaspis ## 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 - **Plant Architect:** Round Bullet Gall Wasps can trigger oak trees to grow a protective woody 'bullet' gall for their young, manipulating plant growth. - **Clone Power:** Some generations of Round Bullet Gall Wasps can reproduce without a male, creating genetic copies of themselves to multiply quickly. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — as birds often peck open galls to eat the larvae inside. - **Shelter:** Inquiline Gall Wasp (*Synergus lignicola*) — lives within the oak gall created by the bullet gall wasp. ## 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 Don't touch the galls without asking an adult, as they are homes for tiny creatures. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Round Bullet 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 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 ## Where to spot - [Copicut Woods](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/copicut-woods) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Greenfield Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greenfield-park) — Wisconsin, US · Park - [Green Springs National Historic Landmark District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/green-springs-national-historic-landmark-district) — Virginia, US · Historic District [View all places to see Round Bullet Gall Wasp](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/round-bullet-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: [Round Bullet Gall Wasp: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/round-bullet-gall-wasp)