Cottonwool Gall by durleybeachbum

Photography • Insects • posted on May 20, 2015

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Description

Andricus quercusramuli is a cynipid wasp that causes galls to form on the catkins of English Oak and Sessile Oak. Cottonwool galls are the sexual generation of Andricus quercusramuli (the asexual generation is a bud gall on oak). The spherical mass of white hairs hides up to 20 gall chambers, each about 2mm dia. and occupied by one larva. These mature and emerge in late June and following mating, the females then cause the alternate asexual generation galls in oak buds.

Comments (19)

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calico_jester

8:12AM | Wed, 20 May 2015

The interchange of Nature, in its hidden applications, boggles this mind... beautiful clip !

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Juliette.Gribnau

8:32AM | Wed, 20 May 2015

wow; great find ; never seen one of those

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jendellas

9:19AM | Wed, 20 May 2015

looks very delicate.

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pat40

10:09AM | Wed, 20 May 2015

Brilliant. haven't seen one of those for years Andrea

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kgb224

10:12AM | Wed, 20 May 2015

Great find and capture Andrea. God bless.

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wysiwig

12:47PM | Wed, 20 May 2015

What a fascinating structure. It looks like spun fiberglass or home insulation. Nice find.

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Adobe_One_Kenobi

12:54PM | Wed, 20 May 2015

You've got a lot of gall posting this hehe! Thought I'd fill in for Jeffers whilst he was away :)

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CavalierLady

2:18PM | Wed, 20 May 2015

Very interesting, Andrea... quite different from our oak galls. Interesting info!

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Glendaw

2:51PM | Wed, 20 May 2015

Wow what a amazing process those wasps go through. Awesome find and great shot of the cool looking mass of white hairs.

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kaward

4:28PM | Wed, 20 May 2015

Superb shot and wonderfully informative text too!

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MrsRatbag

7:43PM | Wed, 20 May 2015

I wonder if that asexual reproduction is why wasps are so ill-tempered?

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ArtistKimberly

8:14PM | Wed, 20 May 2015

Great Capture,

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Faemike55

11:12PM | Wed, 20 May 2015

creepy and interesting at the same time wonderful capture

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Chipka

1:26AM | Thu, 21 May 2015

I've only ever seen those beardless sorts of galls, usually caused by mites or some such species; never these wonderfully hirsute examples. I love the clarity and the undeniable, natural beauty; the details are stunning.

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