Bedeguar Gall Wasp - Diplolepis rosae

The female insects are about 4 mm long; parts of their abdomens and legs are an amber/chestnut colour, while the rest of the body is black. The male (length of about 3 mm) is very rare. It is black and its legs are bi-coloured. The gall is more likely to be seen than the adult wasp.

Anywhere that the Dog-rose plant is found.

From May onwards.

A Bedeguar Gall (also known as Robin's Pincushion) is not the product of a single larva but a group of larvae, each residing in their own chamber within the gall. Diplolepis rosae overwinters in the gall emerging as adult wasps in spring. The adult wasps reproduce not needing males i.e. parthenogenetically.

Fairly common throughout Britain.

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland.