Oak Gall Wasps

Cynipini

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Superfamily: Cynipoidea
Family: Cynipidae
Tribe: Cynipini

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Cynipini: /sɪˈnɪpɪnaɪ/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Acorn Plum Gall by Tasseophile. Used under a CC0 license.

Amphibolips quercusostensackenii exit hole mosbo6 by Natthager. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Translucent Oak Gall by Antoine Guiguet. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

The American Museum journal (c1900-(1918)) (18133543596) by Internet Archive Book Images. Used under a No restrictions license.

Live Oak Apple Gall Wasp imported from iNaturalist photo 170145205 on 2 May 2024 by no rights reserved. Used under a CC0 license.

Amphibolips cookii by Even Dankowicz. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Summary

Cynipini is a tribe of gall wasps known as oak gall wasps, which induce galls on host plants in the beech and oak family (Fagaceae). With around 936 to 1000 species primarily associated with oaks, they are the largest tribe within the Cynipidae family. Their complex life cycles often include alternating generations and various reproductive strategies, highlighting their ecological importance as ecosystem engineers.

Habitat

Gall wasps in the tribe Cynipini primarily inhabit forests dominated by members of the Fagaceae family, particularly oaks (Quercus) and related genera such as Castanea, Chrysolepis, and Lithocarpus.

Distribution

Cynipini is mainly native to the Holarctic region, encompassing areas in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia.

Diet

Cynipini wasps are not herbivorous; instead, they induce galls on host plants (primarily oaks), where they develop feeding on the plant tissue.

Life Cycle

The life cycle of Cynipini wasps includes both sexual reproduction and parthenogenesis, with some species alternating between these reproductive strategies. Most species undergo cyclical parthenogenesis.

Reproduction

Reproduction in Cynipini can be sexual or asexual (parthenogenetic), with various generations differing in reproductive mode.

Ecosystem Role

Cynipini wasps serve as ecosystem engineers, as their galls can support a range of inquilines (organisms that live in the galls) and may be hosts to parasitoids.