Acraspis
Mayr, 1881
Species Guides
5- Acraspis erinacei(Hedgehog Gall Wasp)
- Acraspis pezomachoides
- Acraspis prinoides
- Acraspis quercushirta(jewel oak gall wasp)
- Acraspis villosa
Acraspis is a of gall wasps in the Cynipidae. in this genus induce distinctive galls on oak leaves (Quercus spp.), including the jewel oak gall and oak pea gall. The genus exhibits specialized associations with oaks and has been documented to employ spacing strategies that reduce attack rates.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Acraspis: /əˈkræspɪs/
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Habitat
Galls induced on leaves of Quercus (oak) ; documented on Quercus prinus and bur oak (Q. macrocarpa).
Distribution
North America; documented from New Jersey, Vermont, and other US locations.
Host Associations
- Quercus prinus - plant for gall induction of A. hirta
- Quercus macrocarpa - plant for gall inductionjewel oak gall
Life Cycle
develops within galls on leaves; gall wall hardening occurs as galls mature.
Behavior
Galls are spaced out among leaves, with most trees sparsely infested and few leaves supporting more than one gall. This spacing reduces individual mortality from attack.
Ecological Role
Gall-former on oaks; galls provide for developing larvae and serve as targets for chalcid , which are a key mortality factor. Parasitoids that emerge do not reinfest surviving but likely shift to other gall .
Similar Taxa
- DisholcaspisBoth are cynipid gall wasp inducing galls on oaks; Disholcaspis includes causing beaked twig galls and oak pea galls, overlapping with Acraspis in use but differing in gall and location (twigs vs. leaves).
- AndricusAnother cynipid inducing diverse oak galls; differs in gall types (e.g., oak apples, stellar galls) and often exhibits complex between sexual and forms on different oak .
- AntronCynipid inducing urchin galls and other oak leaf galls; similar use but produces morphologically distinct galls.