# Southern Live Oak Stem Gall Wasp (*Callirhytis quercusbatatoides*) The Southern Live Oak Stem Gall Wasp is a tiny insect that makes special bumps called galls on oak trees. These galls provide a safe home for the wasp's babies as they grow. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Southern Live Oak Stem Gall Wasp](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Callirhytis_quercusbatatoides.jpg&width=800) Photo: Wendy McCrady, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Callirhytis_quercusbatatoides.jpg) ## Appearance The Southern Live Oak Stem Gall Wasp is a tiny, dark-bodied insect, typically black or brownish-black with a shiny exoskeleton. Its slender antennae and delicate, clear wings contrast with its stout, rounded abdomen, which can sometimes have reddish tints. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Cynipidae - **Genus:** Callirhytis ## Interesting facts - Each gall is a custom-built nursery, offering food and protection for one larva. - The bumpy homes on the tree are made by baby wasps controlling the oak tree! - These tiny wasps are super picky, only choosing Southern Live Oak trees! - They only hatch from eggs laid inside the tree's growing twigs or leaves. ## Special abilities - **Plant Manipulation:** Southern Live Oak Stem Gall Wasp can make oak trees grow specific shapes that provide food and shelter for its young. - **Dual Reproduction:** Southern Live Oak Stem Gall Wasp can reproduce sexually or asexually because of its unique life cycle strategy. - **Targeted Laying:** Southern Live Oak Stem Gall Wasp can only lay eggs in specific parts of the Southern Live Oak tree. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 4-8 mm - **Size:** 2-4 mm - **Lifespan:** 7-21 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults may sip nectar, but the larvae munch on the oak tree's gall tissue from inside their homes. - **Age differences:** Larvae consume gall tissue, while adults typically do not feed or sip nectar for energy. - **Primary Foods:** Gall tissue, Nectar, Honeydew ## Ecological connections - **Parasitizes:** [Southern Live Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southern-live-oak) (*Quercus virginiana*) — Uses its tissues to create a protective home for its larvae. - **Eaten by:** [Downy Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/downy-woodpecker) (*Picoides pubescens*) — Woodpeckers sometimes pry open galls to eat the larvae inside. - **Parasitizes:** Parasitoid Wasp (*Torymus bacilligallae*) — Lays its eggs inside the gall, preying on the Southern Live Oak Stem Gall Wasp larva. ## 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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [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 galls from a distance and not touch them, as they are homes for tiny insects. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Southern Live Oak Stem 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 Southern Live Oak Stem Gall Wasp's wingspan? 4-8 mm ### How big is Southern Live Oak Stem Gall Wasp? 2-4 mm ### How long does Southern Live Oak Stem Gall Wasp live? 7-21 days ### What does Southern Live Oak Stem Gall Wasp eat? Adults may sip nectar, but the larvae munch on the oak tree's gall tissue from inside their homes. ### Where is Southern Live Oak Stem Gall Wasp usually found? Forests ### How many legs does Southern Live Oak Stem Gall Wasp have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Ravenall Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ravenall-park) — Florida, 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: [Southern Live Oak Stem Gall Wasp Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southern-live-oak-stem-gall-wasp)