Oak Leaf Phylloxera - Phylloxera glabra

Description

Phylloxera glabra fundatrices feeding on oak leaves in spring cause the leaf edges to curl inwards and become slightly thickened, causing a gall. Feeding by later generations causes necrotic spots on the leaves. The yellowish orange adult apterae feed on the undersides of the leaves.  The Phylloxera glabra adult body length is only  0.7 to 0.85 mm.

Identification difficulty

Gall Insect

Recording advice

Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required and the specimen should be examined with a microscope. In the comments box, state the key or ID method used and describe the size and identifying characters.

Habitat

On the underside of Oak leaves.

When to see it

Spring to autumn.

Life History

Phylloxera glabra lives without host alternation on oak leaves (mainly Pedunculate Oak - Quercus robur).  Female Phylloxera glabra surround themselves with concentric circles of their eggs.

UK Status

Status in Britain is difficult to determine due to lack of records.

VC55 Status

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

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

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
Bugs
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Hemiptera
Family:
Phylloxeridae
Records on NatureSpot:
11
First record:
19/06/2020 (Timms, Sue)
Last record:
01/09/2023 (Graves, Hazel)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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