One thing in favour of galls, they do not require expensive collecting equipment, a pair of
secateurs can be a help for twiggy growths, a pair of scissors (less damage to the host
plant), a couple of plastic bags and a guide book such as the Provisional Keys and/or
Redfern and Asken's "Plant Galls".
On Saturday 26th September, about seven members of the London Natural History
Society (1 was one) attended a visit to Grays Chalk Pit, led by Jerry Bowdrey. A list of 27
galls was made for the day, which was fortunately dry and warm. Don't expect to equal
that each time, but there is always the chance of a surprise or two.
One thing I have learned over time, it is unwise to believe that a survey is exhaustive,
something else is bound to turn up on another occasion. That's what makes natural history
interesting! Keep looking and don't be discouraged. Jerry Bowdrey of Colchester
Museum Resource Centre, 14 Ryegate Road, Colchester, will always be pleased to learn
of your records. Until he knows your identification capabilities, it would be advisable to
send specimens for confirmation first. Fresh in a plastic bag gives the best chance, I
believe.
Our list follows:
On oak
Cynips divisa (Hartig)
Cynips quercusfolii (L.) - Cherry gall
Neuroterus quercusbaccarum (L.)
- Common spangle
Neuroterus numismatis (Geoffroy)
- Silk button spangle
Neuroterus albipes (Schenk)
- Smooth spangle
Andricus anthracina (Curtis) - Oyster gall
Andricus kollari (Hartig) - Marble gall
Andricus quercuscalicis (Burgsdorf)
- Knopper gall
Andricus fecundator (Hartig) - Artichoke gall
On Sycamore
Artacris macrorhynchus (Nalepa)
On Rose sp.
Diplolepis rosae (L.) - Robin's pincushion
Diplolepis rosarum (Giraud) - Spined pea gall
Diplolepis eglanteriae (Hartig)
- Smooth pea gall
On Viola sp.
Dasineura affinis (Kieffer)
On willow sp.
Rhabdophaga marginemtorquens
(Bremi)
Rhabdophaga heterobia (F. Low)
Iteomyia capreae (Winnertz)
Pontania viminalis (L.)
On Stinging nettle
Dasineura urticae (Perris)
On Blackthorn
Eriophyes similis (Nalepa)
Eriophyes padi (Nalepa)
Pristiphora monogyniae (Hartig)
On Hawthorn
Eriophyes goniothorax (Nalepa)
On Dogwood
Craneiobia corni (Giraud)
On Alder
Eriophyes inangulis (Nalepa)
On Beech
Hartigiola annulipes (Hartig)
On Hazel
Phytoptus avellanae (Nalepa)
References
Redfern, Margaret
& Asken, RR.
Plant Galls. Naturalists Handbook series No. 17. Richmond Publishing
Co. Ltd., P.O.Box 963, Slough, SL2 3RS. (£9-61 incl. p&p)
Stubbs, F.B. (Editor) Provisional Keys to British Plant Galls. Obtainable at £4.50 from Peter
Shirley, 72 Dagger Lane, West Bromwich, West Midlands B71 4BS.
Ken Hill
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 28, February 1999