Common Spangle Gall - Neuroterus quercusbaccarum f. agamic

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.

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

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.

English, Sessile and Turkey Oaks.

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.

Common and widespread in Britain.

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland.

See British Plant Galls (Redfern & Shirley, 2023)