CURRANT GALLS

Found these currant galls on shrivelled catkins of oak that had fallen on to the picnic table near the main entrance to Filnore Woods. 

They are caused by a tiny gall wasp called  Neuroterus quercusbaccarum.  Out of these  currant galls in June male and female wasps hatch and mate.  The females lay eggs on the LEAVES of the oak and these will develop into spangle galls, like little brown sequins on the underside of the leaf.

Out of these SPANGLE galls in September come female wasps only.  These are the wasps that lay their eggs in the developing CATKINS to form currant galls and start the cycle all over again.  A fascinatingly complicated life story.