Oregon Oak Gall Wasp vs Ichneumon Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Oregon Oak Gall Wasp | Ichneumon Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Besbicus mirabilis | Megarhyssa macrurus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Cynipidae | Ichneumonidae |
| Size | 2–3 mm | 25-50 mm body plus 100+ mm ovipositor |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Gall Makers | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Western North America | North America |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Oregon Oak Gall Wasp
A gall wasp that induces conspicuous galls on Oregon white oak in western North America. Galls form on leaf veins and can be quite abundant.
Did You Know?
Native Americans used some oak galls medicinally as an astringent to treat mouth sores and skin wounds.
Ichneumon Wasp
A large parasitoid wasp with an extremely long, thread-like ovipositor that can exceed the length of its body. Females drill through solid wood to reach their host larvae deep inside.
Did You Know?
The female can somehow detect horntail larvae vibrations through several centimeters of solid wood and then drill her flexible ovipositor to reach them with remarkable accuracy.