Is this some sort of Parasite?

[Mick_S]

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum but I have no idea what it is, though I suspect it is some sort of parasite. I found it a couple of weeks ago, on the end of a bramble bush growing in the marshes near Reculver.
Close up


And the complete bush if that helps, there was only one of these things growing on it as can be seen to the left of the pic.


If you could let me know what it is I would be very grateful.
TIA

Mick

[Lancashire Lad]

Hi Mick_S,

It definitely doesn't look like either Agrobacterium tumefaciens, or the work of the Bramble Gall wasp, (Diastrophus rubi), which you might expect on Bramble.

Are you sure your bush wasn't a Dog Rose? - The growth looks more like an old "Robins Pincushion" or Bedeguar Gall, caused by the gall wasp Diplolepis rosae. (I'm not aware that you'd find those on Bramble).

(Maybe an Insect Forum regular contributor might know more).

Regards
Mike.

[Deer Stalker]

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

Are you sure your bush wasn't a Dog Rose? - The growth looks more like an old "Robins Pincushion" or Bedeguar Gall, caused by the gall wasp Diplolepis rosae. (I'm not aware that you'd find those on Bramble).Regards
Mike.

Agree with this.

[JennyS]

The bush it's on is definitely a rose rather than a bramble if that's any help ......

[Jason Green]

I was thinking the spines were more rosey than brambley, too.

[Hobjob]

Very much like a dried up last summer Bedeguar to me.

They are not specific to dog rose, but are specific to roses, only rarely occuring on cultivated roses.

[Mick_S]

Thanks guys, I'm happy with it being a wasp, sorry to be misleading about the bramble/rose thing, I'm not much good at plants.

Mick