Gall Wasp - Parasitism

Parasitism

A gall provides the developing gall wasp with a safe refuge for the most vulnerable stage of its life-cycle, however, many other wasps have found a way to penetrate this defence and parasitise the larva(e) within. Some of these parasitoids use their long, hardened egg laying tube (ovipositor) to bore into the gall and lay an egg on the helpless gall maker. Collect a Bedeguar or robin's pincushions gall before the autumn and keep it somewhere cool. In the spring, you will see at least one species of parasitoid emerge instead of the gall maker. These wasps such as Eurytoma rosae are beautiful, metallic insects with long ovipositors. These parasitoids, may in turn, be preyed upon by other wasps, hyperparasitoids.