Common Spangle Gall

Common Spangle Gall - Neuroterus quercusbaccarum f. agamic

Description

Neuroterus quercusbaccarum is a gall wasp that has two generations per year.

The agamic Spangle Galls can be very abundant on the undersides of Oak leaves in autumn.  They are disc-shaped with a central bulge and are covered with tufts of reddish hairs. No structure is visible on the upper leaf surface but it is often discoloured.

Similar Species

Neuroterus albipes and Neuroterus tricolor also have disc-shaped galls on the underside of oak leaves.

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Under "Species", please select "f. agamic" or "f. sexual" as appropriate.  Provide photographs of the gall on the host plant, and note the host species.

Habitat

English, Sessile and Turkey Oaks.

Life History

The agamic (asexual) Spangle Galls fall from the leaf in autumn and the larvae overwinter in leaf litter.

The sexual Currant Galls are spherical, smooth, succulent, berry-like galls up to 7 mm in diameter which vary in colour from pale yellow through green to red or purple. These galls occur on Oak leaves or catkins in around May.

UK Status

Common and widespread in Britain.

VC55 Status

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Further Information

See British Plant Galls (Redfern & Shirley, 2023)

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

No additional images available for this species.

All NatureSpot records