LionelB on Nostr: This isa mystery. It is a distorted flower bud on a magnolia. It appears to be a wasp ...

This isa mystery. It is a distorted flower bud on a magnolia. It appears to be a wasp gall but hosting numerous larvae, rather than one. The white spots are odd though.

This is a fully mature specimen tree grown in a huge pot, so I would guess sourced wholesale from Italy.

Galls are normally quite specific but I can't find any reference to a specific wasp.

Magnolia is not a UK native so my presumption is that this is an invasive. I intend to remove the galls and destroy them, as a precaution.

Has anyone seen these before?

#insects #wasps #entomology #horticulture #magnolia