gall wasp

noun

: any of a family (Cynipidae) of hymenopterous gallflies

Illustration of gall wasp

Illustration of gall wasp
  • gall wasp and gall

Examples of gall wasp in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Beetles, leafminers, gall wasps, slugs, and other pesky invaders can all spell trouble for plant health. Brittany Anas, House Beautiful, 8 June 2023 It’s a captivating legacy for a man who spent the first half of his career studying the gall wasp. Sophie Putka, Discover Magazine, 18 Mar. 2021 Upon hatching, the larva assumes control of its parasite neighbor, compelling the hapless gall wasp to chew through the wood in a bid for freedom. Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, 27 Sep. 2019 Crypt-keeper larvae then burrow into the gall wasp hatchlings. Fox News, 27 Sep. 2019 Anna Ward for The Forbes Lab, The University of Iowa To deposit its eggs, the parasitic oak gall wasp pierces a leaf or stem with its ovipositor, a long tubelike organ that would be a stinger if this wasp were the kind that stings. Joanna Klein, New York Times, 27 Sep. 2019 According to New Scientist’s Michael Le Page, researchers initially thought the crypt-keeper targeted just one species of gall wasp. Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, 27 Sep. 2019 Entomologist Elijah Talamas confirmed the miniature pompoms to be fuzzy leaf galls, the handiwork of a tiny bug called a gall wasp, also known scientifically as callirhytis infuscate. Kevin Spear, orlandosentinel.com, 22 Oct. 2014 These are galls from one of a number of oak gall wasps. oregonlive.com, 8 June 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gall wasp was in 1879

Dictionary Entries Near gall wasp

Cite this Entry

“Gall wasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gall%20wasp. Accessed 28 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

gall wasp

noun
: a wasp that is a gallfly

More from Merriam-Webster on gall wasp

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!