Cola-Nut Gall vs Cottonwool Gall

Andricus lignicolus compared with Andricus quercusramuli

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cola-Nut Gall	Cottonwool Gall
Kingdom same	Animalia (动物界)	Animalia (动物界)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (节肢动物门)	Arthropoda (节肢动物门)
Class same	Insecta (昆蟲綱)	Insecta (昆蟲綱)
Order same	Hymenoptera (膜翅目)	Hymenoptera (膜翅目)
Family same	Cynipidae	Cynipidae
Genus same	Andricus	Andricus
Species	Andricus lignicolus	Andricus quercusramuli

Evolutionary Relationship

Cola-Nut Gall and Cottonwool Gall share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Andricus.

Conservation Status

Cola-Nut Gall

NE — Not Evaluated

Cottonwool Gall

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cola-Nut Gall	Cottonwool Gall
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cola-Nut Gall

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries).

Cottonwool Gall

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Cola-Nut Gall

<em>Andricus lignicolus</em> is a gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. The name "Cola-Nut Gall" refers to the gall structure this species induces on oak trees, rather than a conventional common name for the organism itself. <em>Andricus lignicolus</em> has been recorded across parts of western and northern Europe, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The species occupies a broad range of terrestrial and freshwater habitats within its range, reflecting the wide distribution of its host oak trees. Gall wasps in the genus <em>Andricus</em> have complex life cycles often involving alternating sexual and asexual generations, with different generations producing distinct gall morphologies on the same or different oak species. The species has not been assessed under the IUCN Red List. Diet data and specific biological measurements for <em>Andricus lignicolus</em> are not documented in available sources. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. Its ecological role is tied to its host plants, and like other cynipid gall wasps, it likely hosts a variety of inquiline and parasitoid insects within its galls.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark