White Ermine vs Spangle Gall Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute White Ermine Spangle Gall Wasp
Scientific Name Spilosoma lubricipeda Neuroterus quercusbaccarum
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Erebidae Cynipidae
Size 34-42 mm wingspan 1.5–2.5 mm
Habitat Farmland Woodlands
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, temperate Asia Europe
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

White Ermine

A pure white moth peppered with variable black dots, resembling ermine fur. The number of spots varies greatly between individuals.

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Did You Know?

Some individuals have so few spots they appear nearly pure white, while others are heavily marked.

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.

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Did You Know?

A single oak leaf may carry over a hundred spangle galls, yet the tree suffers minimal harm.