Spangle Gall Wasp vs Poinsettia Thrips
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Spangle Gall Wasp | Poinsettia Thrips |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Neuroterus quercusbaccarum | Echinothrips americanus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Thysanoptera |
| Family | Cynipidae | Thripidae |
| Size | 1.5–2.5 mm | 1.3-1.7 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Gardens |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe | North America, Europe |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Not Evaluated |
Spangle Gall Wasp
A tiny gall wasp that produces flat, disc-shaped spangle galls on the undersides of oak leaves. It alternates between two distinct gall forms across generations.
Did You Know?
A single oak leaf may carry over a hundred spangle galls, yet the tree suffers minimal harm.
Poinsettia Thrips
A dark brown thrips originally from eastern North America now invasive in European greenhouses. It feeds on a wide range of ornamental plants.
Did You Know?
Unlike most thrips, this species completes its entire life cycle on the leaf surface and never enters the soil.