Disholcaspis cinerosa
Sexual generation

Females of the asexual generation lay their eggs in swollen leaf buds. These eggs hatch in early spring as leaf buds begin to open. Resulting larvae develop quickly in new leaf tissue, and in the process they induce the formation of a second type of gall. This new growth is beige and resembles a kernel of wheat in size and shape (figure 5). Larvae, pupae and adults complete development in a few weeks within these small, obscure galls. The sexual generation differs from the asexual generation not only in gall type but also in that the spring galls produce adults of both sexes. Sexual generation adults are about 1/3 the size of the asexual generation adults (figure 2). Immediately after emergence, male and female wasps mate; males then die. Mated females may live up to a week during which time each individual deposits about 15 eggs in the branches of live oak.

The eggs pass through a 3- to 5-month dormant period. After this period, larvae hatch and begin development in certain outer branch tissues, which leads to formation of pink spherical galls (figure 1). Thus, the annual cycle of Disholcaspis is completed.

Range: Gall-infested live oak trees occur throughout Texas in natural and planted situations. The gall wasp also is reported from the same host in certain parts of Mexico and from western Louisiana.

- Gordon Frankie, David Morgan, Mike Gaylor, James Benskin, Wayne Clark, Hal Reed, Philip Hamman: (1977) The Mealy Oak Gall on Ornamental Live Oak in Texas^©