Oak Marble Gall Wasp vs Rosette Gall Midge

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Oak Marble Gall Wasp Rosette Gall Midge
Scientific Name Andricus kollari Dasineura urticae
Order Hymenoptera Diptera
Family Cynipidae Cecidomyiidae
Size 3-5 mm 1.5-2.5 mm
Habitat Parks Farmland
Diet Gall Makers Gall Makers
Regions Europe, Western Asia Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Oak Marble Gall Wasp

A tiny wasp that induces marble-shaped galls on oak twigs where its larvae develop. The galls were historically used to make iron gall ink.

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Did You Know?

The ink made from its galls was used to write the US Declaration of Independence and Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks.

Rosette Gall Midge

A tiny midge that causes distinctive rosette galls on the tips of stinging nettles. The growing tip is stunted and swollen. Very common wherever nettles grow.

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Did You Know?

The distinctive bunched rosette galls on nettle tips are so common that most people have seen them without knowing the cause.