About Acraspis quercushirta (Bassett, 1864)
Acraspis quercushirta, commonly known as the jewel oak gall wasp, is a species of gall wasp belonging to the family Cynipidae, tribe Cynipini (oak gall wasps). It is found in North America. Its known hosts are white oaks, which include bur oak, Gambel oak, Chapman oak, swamp chestnut oak, and chestnut oak. Like most oak gall wasps, this species has two generations per year: one asexual (agamic) generation and one sexual generation, and each generation produces a distinct type of gall. Wingless females of the asexual generation emerge from their galls in autumn, then climb an oak tree to lay eggs in bud scales, which triggers gall development. These small, easily overlooked galls and their developing larvae overwinter, continue development in spring, and finally become adult wasps in late May to early June. Adults of the sexual generation mate, after which females lay eggs on veins on the undersides of host leaves. The gall induced by this generation is detachable, oval-shaped, and ranges in color from white and yellowish to tan or brown. The gall's surface is split into facets that each end in a short hard point, giving it an appearance similar to jewelry. These galls typically fall from the tree along with leaves in autumn, and asexual female adults emerge from them soon after the galls fall.
