Gall of Plagiotrochus quercusilicis

Hymenoptera - Cynipidae

The females of the cynipidae Plagiotrochus quercusilicis cause red galls on green oaks (Quercus ilex) and kermes (Quercus coccifera). These galls appear in both, leaves and masculine inflorescences or tassels. The gall shape is like a ball when it is in leaves. However, gall shape in tassels is like a rod, therefore is named variety fusifex. The 1st picture shows the galls in leaves of green oak, while the 2nd picture shows it in the kermes. The next pictures display galls of the variety fusifex, the 3rd and 4th in the tassels of green oak and the 5th and 6th in that of kermes.

[photos Xavier Adot (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th) and Jordi Badia (5th and 6th)]