A species new to Scotland at Dalgarven Mill
27 August
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The Gooseberry Gall on an acorn cup.
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A Knopper Gall developing on an acorn
The Gooseberry or Acorn Cup gall is only found on the cups of oak trees and is caused by the tiny wasp species, Andricus grossulariae. These galls are malformations of the plant, induced by the insect; often very noticeable with bright colourations and odd shapes, they serve to shelter and feed the developing young of the insect involved.
These distinctive galls, recently found by the NAC Garnock Valley Ranger on some oaks in the old meadows at the Dalgarven Mill Museum of Ayrshire Country Life and Costume, are a southern species and have not been recorded in Scotland before, let alone Ayrshire. The presence of these galls may be another indicator of the effects of Global Warming.
A superficially similar species is the large Knopper Gall that develops on the acorn itself; it has become a common a common sight since being introduced from abroad in the 1970s.
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