Another gall wasp ID

[Lord V]

Gall wasp on the car- taken today. About 4mm body length.
Any ideas ?
Thanks Brian V.

[Torymus]

A gall wasp - a species of Neuroterus and probably N. quercusbaccarum. The features to confirm the ID are not seen clearly ie the shape of the gaster (abdomen) and the top of the thorax. However there is a yellowish brown mark on the forewing that suggests quercusbaccarum - otherwise it could be N. albipes or N. numismalis. They are all very similar and generally common. All 3 are emerging right now. Its an agamic female that has emerged from a spangle gall on an oak leaf and will now lay eggs in oak buds that will produce male catkins. The galls are the sometimes very common currant galls that appear in May.
Is your car parked right below an oak tree? Brilliant photograph!

[Lord V]

Thanks again Torymus for the ID and detailed info. There's a single Ilex oak about 20yds away from my car. Had three of these on it yesterday
Brian V.

[Torymus]

I have never seen a cynipid gall wasp away from the host plant - Neither of the two species you have had on your car use the evergreen oak - both at this time of year are from our native oaks.

[Lord V]

Originally Posted by Torymus

I have never seen a cynipid gall wasp away from the host plant - Neither of the two species you have had on your car use the evergreen oak - both at this time of year are from our native oaks.

Very odd - not aware of any other oak trees at least for a 100yd radius.
Brian V.

[Torymus]

That's OK - I would have thought that distance was no problem- you must be very observant though!