# Thimbleberry Gall Wasp (*Diastrophus kincaidii*) The Thimbleberry Gall Wasp is a tiny insect that makes special homes called galls on thimbleberry plants. These galls look like little bumps and provide a safe place for the wasp's babies to grow. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Thimbleberry Gall Wasp](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Thimbleberry_gallmaker.jpg&width=800) Photo: Mbdfar, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thimbleberry_gallmaker.jpg) ## Appearance The Thimbleberry Gall Wasp is a tiny, dark-bodied insect, typically black or dark brown, with a shiny exoskeleton. Its small size and transparent wings distinguish it, but it's most often identified by the distinctive, often reddish or green, spindle-shaped galls it creates on thimbleberry stems. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Cynipidae - **Genus:** Diastrophus ## Interesting facts - Each tiny wasp creates a unique living sculpture! - Galls can look like berries or strange plant potatoes! - Its larvae turn plant cells into a personal pantry! - Some gall wasps are all female, no dads needed! ## Special abilities - **Gall Architect:** Thimbleberry Gall Wasp can cleverly manipulate plants to grow protective homes called galls because of special chemicals it injects. - **Host Plant Whisperer:** Thimbleberry Gall Wasp has a unique ability to trigger a specific plant response that helps them create safe nurseries for their young. - **Tiny Chemist:** Thimbleberry Gall Wasp can inject powerful chemicals that force the host plant to grow a custom-designed, nutrient-rich shelter for its larvae. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 4-8 mm - **Size:** 2-4 mm - **Lifespan:** 7-14 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults might sip nectar, but larvae get all their nutrition by consuming the plant tissue inside their gall homes. - **Age differences:** Larvae consume plant tissue inside galls; adults may feed on nectar or honeydew, or not feed at all. - **Primary Foods:** Gall tissue, Nectar, Honeydew ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Thimbleberry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/thimbleberry) (*Rubus parviflorus*) — Its larvae rely on this plant to grow their protective gall homes. - **Parasitizes:** Perplexing Torymid Wasp (*Torymus perplexus*) — Its larvae develop inside the Thimbleberry Gall Wasp's galls. - **Eaten by:** [Steller's Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stellers-jay) (*Cyanocitta stelleri*) — This bird sometimes pecks at galls to find the larvae inside. ## 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. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [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. - [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 these wasps from a distance and not touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Thimbleberry 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 Thimbleberry Gall Wasp's wingspan? 4-8 mm ### How big is Thimbleberry Gall Wasp? 2-4 mm ### How long does Thimbleberry Gall Wasp live? 7-14 days ### What does Thimbleberry Gall Wasp eat? Adults might sip nectar, but larvae get all their nutrition by consuming the plant tissue inside their gall homes. ### Where is Thimbleberry Gall Wasp usually found? Forests ### How many legs does Thimbleberry Gall Wasp have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Mount Elphinstone Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-elphinstone-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Chemainus River Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chemainus-river-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Lockhart Creek Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lockhart-creek-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Thimbleberry Gall Wasp](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/thimbleberry-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: [Thimbleberry Gall Wasp: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/thimbleberry-gall-wasp)