Diastrophus rubi

Description

Diastrophus rubi is a gall wasp which affects Bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.).  The galls is an elongated swelling, usually causing the stem to bend, with a bumpy surface, each bump containing a separate gall chamber.  Often the old, vacated galls are found with multiple exit holes; these can persist for many years. 

It is a bisexual species; after mating, fertilised eggs develop into females and unfertilised eggs into males.  Males are rare in some populations, and the species may be moving towards a parthenogenetic life-cycle where males are absent 

Similar Species

Lasioptera rubi is a gall-midge that causes similar swellings on bramble stems, 

Identification difficulty

Gall Adult

Recording advice

state the host, and provide photos

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

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Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

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Species profile

Species group:
Bees, Wasps, Ants
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Hymenoptera
Family:
Cynipidae
Records on NatureSpot:
12
First record:
13/04/2019 (lemmon, roy)
Last record:
07/08/2024 (Graves, Hazel)

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