Oak Apple Gall Wasp vs Hessian Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Oak Apple Gall Wasp | Hessian Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Biorhiza pallida | Mayetiola destructor |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Cynipidae | Cecidomyiidae |
| Size | 3.5–6 mm | 2-4 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Farmland |
| Diet | Gall Makers | Gall Makers |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | Cosmopolitan - originally Eurasia, now worldwide |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Oak Apple Gall Wasp
A gall wasp that creates large spongy apple-like galls on oak twigs. It has an alternating sexual and asexual generation cycle.
Did You Know?
The asexual generation develops in root galls underground, while the sexual generation produces the conspicuous twig galls.
Hessian Fly
A tiny dark gall midge that is one of the most destructive pests of wheat and barley worldwide. Adults resemble small dark mosquitoes and live for only a few days.
Did You Know?
Named after Hessian soldiers in the American Revolution who supposedly brought it to North America in straw bedding.