Andricus quercusstrobilanus

Andricus quercusstrobilanus, the lobed oak gall wasp, is a species^[1] of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae, ^[2] found in North America. ^[3] The quercus in its specific name is the genus name for oak, while "strobilus" is derived from the Greek strobilo which means "cone", a reference to the cone shape of the gall; ^[4] thus the gall is sometimes called pine cone oak gall. ^[5]

Andricus quercusstrobilanus
pine cone oak galls
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Cynipidae
Genus:	Andricus
Species:	A. quercusstrobilanus
Binomial name
Andricus quercusstrobilanus (Osten-Sacken, 1862)
Synonyms
Adleria quercusstrobilana Adleria strobilana Cynips strobilana

Description

Larvae induce a cluster of wedge-shaped galls on white oaks, including bur oak, swamp white oak, and overcup oak. ^[4] The galls are irregular, cone-shaped bodies ^[6] that are closely packed together, with their pointed bases attached to a common centre. ^[7] These wedges are hard and corky and break off very easily when the gall is dry. Each of them contains a hollow kernel with a plump, large larva inside. ^[8] The galls undergo color change from pink or red to yellow and finally to brown. ^[9]

Adults of the species have not been described.

Ecology

Guest wasps found in the galls include inquilines such as Synergus lignicola (Cynipidae) and parasitoids such as Eurytoma sp. (Eurytomidae).^[6]