Liposthenes glechomae

Liposthenes glechomae

Alternative names
Liposthenes latreillei and as Liposthenus latreillei
Description

Liposthenes glechomae is a cynipid gall wasp that causes galls to form on Ground-ivy. The galls are globular hairy swellings on the undersides of leaves or apparent on both sides of the stem. They are green or reddish in sunlight, soft at first becoming hard and containing a white larva. 

It is a unisexual species, with males rare or absent; the females reproduce by parthenogenesis.

Identification difficulty

Gall  Adult

Habitat

Where Ground-ivy is present.

When to see it

Galls: Best seen in late May and June.

UK Status

Widespread in England, but it does not appear to be particularly common.

VC55 Status

Infrequent or under recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

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

All NatureSpot records