WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Fairly common and widespread throughout the UK though probably under recorded. Habitat includes: Anywhere with Currents and Oaks such as gardens, parks, allotments, churchyards, woodland, hedgerows, scrub, wasteland etc. Other names include: Common Spangle Gall, Currant Gall. Gall diameter: Up to 6 mm. Life story: There are 2 generations / year. The first emerges in April and is agamic (all Female). They then lay their eggs on Currants. Two months later in June the second generation hatches from the Currants and is made up of both Males and Females. After mating the fertilised eggs are laid in the lower epidermis (underside) and catkins of Oak leaves. In the Autumn when the leaves drop, the spangle galls continue to develop over the winter and emerges the following April to then repeat the cycle.