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Spangle gall

Neuroterus quercusbaccarum

Photo by Jae
Published on Project Noah
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52.2875, 6.13225

Field Notes

Description:

The spangle gall generation on the underside of the oak leaves are flat discs, with a distinct central elevation, slightly hairy, yellow-green at first and reddish later, attached by a short stalk. These galls are up to 6 mm in diameter, unilocular, unilarval with a whitish or yellow undersurface. They mature in September, detach and fall to the ground before the leaves themselves. The larva continue to develop in the fallen spangle and, protected by the leaf layer, they overwinter. Any spangle galls that remain attached to the leaves dry up and die.

Habitat:

Neuroterus quercusbaccarum is found throughout Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa, anywhere oak is present.

Notes:

Spangle galls caused by the cynipid wasp spotted on an oak leaf (Quercus robur) in Nieuwe Rande Forest in rural area of Deventer, Holland. (sources:see reference)

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (4)

Thank you, Lauren. I'm not sure but I think Neuroterus quercusbaccarum does not occur in the new world. At least it doesn't show up on the Encyclopedia of Life distribution map.
Very neat! I've never seen these on Oaks in the US or Mexico!
Thank you, Doreen.

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