Striped Volcano Gall Wasp (Feron atrimentum / Andricus atrimentus) Pictures

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Striped Volcano Gall Wasp (Feron atrimentum)

The striped volcano gall wasp (Feron atrimentum, previously Andricus atrimentus) induces spectacular cone-shaped galls which are adorned with vibrant red bands of color. It takes little imagination to see these summer generation galls as miniature volcanoes with hot lava flowing down the sides. Spring generation galls are more or less spherical, slightly translucent, and lack the distinct stripes of their summer generation counterparts. This species is only known to occur on blue oak (Quercus douglasii); if you are learning to recognize California's native oaks, the presence of this gall is sufficient to identify the host. Also note that blue oak is endemic (restricted) to California. Therefore, so is this gall wasp!

Striped volcano gall wasp (Feron atrimentum). Vacaville, Solano County, California, USA. Stock Photo ID=GAL0113
Striped volcano gall induced by the cynipid wasp, Feron atrimentum. Stacked and stitched micro panorama of 1300+ exposures photographed at 7.5x lifesize. Vacaville, Solano County, California, USA.
GAL0113

Gall induced by the striped volcano gall wasp (Feron atrimentum). Focus-stacked composite of 662 exposures at 7.5x lifesize. Vacaville, Solano County, California, USA.
GAL0114

Striped volcano gall wasp (Feron atrimentum), summer generation galls on blue oak. Focus-stacked composite of 66 exposures photographed at ~2.5x lifesize. Vacaville, Solano County, California, USA.
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Striped volcano gall wasp (Feron atrimentum), summer generation gall. Focus-stacked composite. Vacaville, Solano County, California, USA.
GAL0053

Striped volcano gall wasp (Feron atrimentum). Vacaville, Solano County, California, USA. Stock Photo ID=GAL0054
Striped volcano gall (Feron atrimentum), with adult index finger shown for scale. Vacaville, Solano County, California, USA.
GAL0054

Striped volcano gall (Feron atrimentum), low-magnification view showing the leaves of the host plant - blue oak (Quercus douglasii). Focus stack of 39 exposures. Vacaville, Solano County, California, USA.
GAL0056

Striped volcano gall wasp (Feron atrimentum). Highly-detailed composite of 47 exposures. Vacaville, Solano County, California, USA.
GAL0057

Plate gall wasp (Feron pattersonae) and striped volcano gall wasp (Feron atrimentum). Vacaville, Solano County, California, USA. Stock Photo ID=GAL00067
Galls induced by the striped volcano gall wasp (Feron atrimentum) [left] and the plate gall wasp (F. pattersonae) [right] on a single leaf of blue oak (Quercus douglasii). Vacaville, Solano County, California, USA.
GAL0067

Striped volcano gall wasp (Feron atrimentum), spring generation gall on blue oak (Quercus douglasii). Note that the spring gall is somewhat spherical and lacks the distinct stripes of the summer generation counterpart. Vacaville, Solano County, California, USA.
GAL0082

Striped volcano gall wasp (Feron atrimentum), wide-angle view showing a spring generation gall in relation to its environment. Vacaville, Solano County, California, USA.
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Striped volcano gall wasp (Feron atrimentum), spring generation gall being held for scale. Vacaville, Solano County, California, USA.
GAL0084

Next Gall: Sunburst gall wasp (Feron stellare)

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