# Speckled Gall Wasp (*Cynips mirabilis*) The Speckled Gall Wasp is a tiny insect that creates special round galls on oak trees. These galls are like little homes for the wasp's babies, making them very unique and interesting! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Speckled Gall Wasp](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cynips_mirabilis_gall.jpg&width=800) Photo: Garth Harwood, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cynips_mirabilis_gall.jpg) ## Appearance The Speckled Gall Wasp is a tiny, dark insect, typically black or brown, with a small, somewhat rounded body. It is often identified by the distinct, often reddish-speckled galls it induces on oak leaves, which serve as its larval nursery. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Cynipidae - **Genus:** Cynips ## Interesting facts - Inside each plant gall, a baby wasp develops safely, eating its way through its leafy home! - Sometimes, other insects cleverly move into these galls too, sharing the ready-made shelter! - The galls created by this wasp can grow into amazing shapes, like tiny apples or stars! - These tiny wasps don't sting people or animals, even though they look like their bee cousins! ## Special abilities - **Gall Architect:** Speckled Gall Wasp can trigger plants to grow unique 'houses' around its young because of special chemicals it injects. - **Living Fortress Builder:** Speckled Gall Wasp larvae have a protective home inside plant tissue that helps them stay safe from predators. - **Clone Creator:** Some Speckled Gall Wasps can reproduce without a mate, creating exact copies of themselves that helps ensure survival. ## Measurements & details - **Size:** 2-4 mm - **Lifespan:** 5-14 days - **Flight Speed:** 5 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults might sip nectar, while young wasps munch on plant tissue inside their unique galls. - **Age differences:** Adults may consume nectar, while larvae feed exclusively on the plant tissue of their gall. - **Primary Foods:** Oak leaf tissue, Nectar ## Ecological connections - **Parasitizes:** [Coast Live Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coast-live-oak) (*Quercus agrifolia*) — Induces galls on its leaves for larval development. - **Eaten by:** Oak Gall Parasitoid (*Torymus californicus*) — Its larvae are parasitized by other wasps inside the gall. - **Eaten by:** [Western Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus griseus*) — Squirrels sometimes consume galls, including the larvae. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [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. - [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 Always look but don't touch insects unless you are with an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Speckled 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. ### How big is Speckled Gall Wasp? 2-4 mm ### How long does Speckled Gall Wasp live? 5-14 days ### How fast can Speckled Gall Wasp fly? 5 km/h ### What does Speckled Gall Wasp eat? Adults might sip nectar, while young wasps munch on plant tissue inside their unique galls. ### Where is Speckled Gall Wasp usually found? Forests ### How many legs does Speckled Gall Wasp have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Bush's Pasture Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bushs-pasture-park) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden ## 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: [Speckled Gall Wasp: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/speckled-gall-wasp)