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Urchin Gall Wasp (Antron quercusechinus)

The urchin gall wasp (Antron quercusechinus, formerly Cynips quercusechinus) induces stunningly gorgeous summer-fall generation galls on the leaves of blue and scrub oaks. Some specimens are entirely pinkish or purple; others exhibit a little extra flair with white tips. Spring generation galls form in the leaf buds and are quite inconspicuous.


Urchin gall wasp (Antron quercusechinus), new developing gall on blue oak (Quercus douglasii). Stacked and stitched micro panorama of 1732 exposures photographed at 7.5x lifesize. Solano County, California, USA.
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Urchin gall wasp (Antron quercusechinus), single gall. Focus-stacked from 162 exposures photographed at ~1.7x lifesize. Lake Berryessa, Napa County, California, USA.
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[Note: This is not the typical form of this gall. It was possibly induced by the spined turban gall wasp A. douglasii. Or it might indeed be an urchin gall but altered by a non-inducer. Gall biology is incredibly complex! Prolific gall photographer Joyce Gross discusses the topic here.]


Urchin gall wasp (Antron quercusechinus), cluster of galls on blue oak (Quercus douglasii). Focus-stacked for increased depth of field. Solano County, California, USA.
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Urchin gall wasp (Antron quercusechinus), close-up revealing the incredible details of these diminutive dwellings. Focus-stacked for increased depth of field. Solano County, California, USA.
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Next Gall: Urn gall wasp (Phylloteras cupella)



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All images copyright Timothy Boomer. All rights reserved worldwide.