Quercus-garryana
Guides
Cynips mirabilis
Speckled Gall Wasp
Cynips mirabilis, commonly known as the speckled gall wasp, is a cynipid wasp native to western North America. The species induces distinctive galls on Oregon oak (Quercus garryana) leaves, with larvae developing inside detachable, speckled galls. It exhibits a complex life cycle involving multiple generations, a common trait among Cynipidae. The species was formerly placed in the genus Besbicus but has been reclassified under Cynips. It is one of the most frequently observed gall wasps in its range, with over 2,000 documented observations.
Monarthrum scutellare
ambrosia beetle
Monarthrum scutellare is a scolytine weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) native to North America. It is an ambrosia beetle, a guild that cultivates fungal symbionts within wood galleries rather than feeding directly on plant tissues. The species has been documented in British Columbia, Canada, where it has been detected using a combination of ethanol and synthetic 3-hydroxyoctan-2-one lures. Like other Monarthrum species, it poses potential threats as an invasive pest due to its cryptic lifestyle and association with forest ecosystems.