Jewel-gall
Guides
Acraspis quercushirta
jewel oak gall wasp
Acraspis quercushirta, the jewel oak gall wasp, is a North American cynipid wasp that induces distinctive, detachable galls on white oak leaves. The species exhibits a complex life cycle with alternating sexual and asexual generations, each producing morphologically different galls. The sexual generation forms the namesake "jewel" galls—oval, faceted structures ranging from white to brown that detach and fall with leaves in autumn. Molecular studies have confirmed its conspecific status with A. macrocarpae, which was previously considered a separate species.