Large Oak Cynipid vs Hawaiian Tree Snail Predator Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Large Oak Cynipid Hawaiian Tree Snail Predator Beetle
Scientific Name Cynips quercusfolii Oodemas laysanensis
Order Hymenoptera Coleoptera
Family Cynipidae Chrysomelidae
Size 2.5–4 mm 4-6 mm
Habitat Woodlands Beaches & Coastal
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe Hawaii
Conservation Not Evaluated Endangered

Large Oak Cynipid

A gall wasp that induces cherry-sized galls on the undersides of oak leaves. The galls turn from green to red as they mature in autumn.

💡

Did You Know?

The colorful galls were historically known as 'oak cherries' and were sometimes mistaken for real fruit by children.

Hawaiian Tree Snail Predator Beetle

A small leaf beetle endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. It feeds on native vegetation in dry shrubland habitats.

💡

Did You Know?

Originally described from Laysan Island, it is now extremely rare due to habitat destruction.