Today's wasp of the day is the jewel oak gall wasp (Acraspis quercushirta)!
Credits: photo 1, photo 2
Formerly called Acraspis macrocarpae, this extra round nugget is like many gall wasps and has generations that alternate between sexual and asexual reproduction. In spring, both male and female wasps will emerge after overwintering in their galls and go on to lay eggs on oak leaves that will induce their own galls. With the falling of autumn leaves, out from the now detached galls pops the wingless females who will trek to another tree to asexually lay more eggs that will overwinter to become the next spring batch.
Alternating between sexual and asexual reproduction is a special type of what is referred to as "cyclical parthenogenesis". Many animals (notably some insects and reptiles) resort to this as a way to stretch out and conserve genetic resources when environmental factors are less than ideal. What makes oak gall wasps special is the very structured pattern of it they follow.
She's so round. Like a very tiny grape.




















