Oak Apple Gall Wasp vs Lunar Ichneumon Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Oak Apple Gall Wasp Lunar Ichneumon Wasp
Scientific Name Biorhiza pallida Megarhyssa lunator
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Cynipidae Ichneumonidae
Size 3.5–6 mm 30-50 mm body, ovipositor up to 130 mm
Habitat Woodlands Forests
Diet Gall Makers Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, Western Asia Eastern North America
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.

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Did You Know?

The asexual generation develops in root galls underground, while the sexual generation produces the conspicuous twig galls.

Lunar Ichneumon Wasp

A striking ichneumon with a yellow and brown banded body. It parasitizes pigeon tremex horntail larvae inside hardwood trees.

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Did You Know?

Its ovipositor is the longest relative to body size of any insect in North America.