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Wool Sower Gall Wasp

Callirhytis seminator

The Wool Sower Gall Wasp is a tiny insect that creates special round galls on oak trees. These galls look like little fuzzy balls and are homes for the wasp's babies!

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Wool Sower Gall Wasp is a very tiny, dark-bodied insect, typically black or dark brown. It has delicate, clear wings that help it move between oak trees. Its small size, often just a few millimeters, makes it easily overlooked.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilyCynipidaeGenusCallirhytis
Wool Sower Gall Wasp
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Wool Sower Gall Wasp

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Inside the gall are many tiny chambers, each holding a developing wasp larva.

The 'wool' of the gall is actually part of the oak tree!

These fuzzy galls look like cotton balls growing right on oak tree branches!

When fully grown, the tiny adult wasps chew their way out of the gall.

Special abilities

Ability

Gall Architect

Wool Sower Gall Wasp can cleverly manipulate oak tree growth to create a protective, woolly nursery for its young larvae.

Ability

Plant Whisperer

Wool Sower Gall Wasp has special chemicals that trick oak trees into growing unique galls, providing shelter and food.

Ability

Precision Planter

Wool Sower Gall Wasp can precisely lay eggs within oak buds, triggering the formation of its distinctive woolly home.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
4-6 mm
Size
2-3 mm
Lifespan
7-14 days
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

Adults might sip nectar, but the larvae eat juicy plant tissue from inside their cozy gall.

Age differences: Adult wasps may briefly feed on nectar, while larvae consume specific oak tissues.

Primary Foods

  • oak leaf tissue
  • oak stem tissue
  • nectar

Ecological connections

depends on

White Oak

Quercus alba

Provides specific plant tissue for gall formation and larval food.

depends on

Red Oak

Quercus rubra

Host tree species where the wasp lays eggs and galls develop.

parasitizes

Torymus Wasp

Torymus advenus

Its larvae consume the developing Wool Sower Gall Wasp larvae within the gall.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always look at insects from a distance and don't touch them unless you are sure they are safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Wool Sower Gall Wasp's wingspan?

4-6 mm

How big is Wool Sower Gall Wasp?

2-3 mm

How long does Wool Sower Gall Wasp live?

7-14 days

What does Wool Sower Gall Wasp eat?

Adults might sip nectar, but the larvae eat juicy plant tissue from inside their cozy gall.

Where is Wool Sower Gall Wasp usually found?

Forests

How many legs does Wool Sower Gall Wasp have?

6

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