Cottonwool Gall - Andricus quercusramuli f. sexual

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Description

The sexual gall of the gall-wasp is a spherical mass of white hairs on oak catkins, up to 3cm across. Inside are up to 20 chambers, each occupied by one larva.

[Note: the agamic galls are formed in oak buds]

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Photograph the gall on oak, and note the host species

Habitat

native oak trees

UK Status

Widespread but uncommon (British Plant Galls, Redfern & Shirley, 2023)

VC55 Status

Rare/rarely recorded

Further Information

See British Plant Galls (Redfern & Shirley, 2023)

  • Peter Smith
    Thurcaston, bridleway to Coffin Bridge
    02 May 2025
    sexual generation on Oak
  • Michael2000
    Garden, Loughborough.
    26 May 2025
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    23 May 2012
    cottonwool gall - sexual generation on Oak
  • Peter Smith
    Thurcaston, bridleway to Coffin Bridge
    02 May 2025
  • Melinda Bell
    Heather,QEDJWood
    06 May 2024
    sexual generation on Oak
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    23 May 2012
    cottonwool gall - sexual generation
  • sue
    Bagworth Heath CP, area near scrapes
    07 June 2025
    section through galls showing multiple cells
  • sue
    Bagworth Heath CP, area near scrapes
    07 June 2025

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

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

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Cottonwool Gall Causer, Cotton-wool Gall Causer
Species group:
insect - hymenopteran
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Hymenoptera
Family:
Cynipidae
Records on NatureSpot:
12
First record:
23/05/2012 (Cooper, Barbara)
Last record:
07/06/2025 (Timms, Sue)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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Latest images

Latest records

  • Melinda Bell
    Heather,QEDJWood
    06 May 2024
  • Peter Smith
    Thurcaston, bridleway to Coffin Bridge
    02 May 2025
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    23 May 2012
    cottonwool gall - sexual generation
  • Melinda Bell
    Heather,QEDJWood
    06 May 2024