Robin’s Pin Cushion

A Robin’s Pin Cushion, otherwise known as a Bedeguar Gall, is caused when a minute gall wasp (Diplolepis rosae of the Family Cynipidae) lays its eggs in a wild rose, usually in the leaves. The plant reacts in this characteristic way to the insertion of the egg, and the response it is thought to provide more food and a better environment in which the larvae can develop when the eggs hatch out. The rose itself still flourishes, and its survival is not affected by the formation of these galls. The dog rose on which I found these brightly coloured specimens is beside one of the wooden benches that are placed around the cricket pitch in the village.

2 Comments on “Robin’s Pin Cushion

  1. I’ll have to have a look ,I ve never seen that before yvonne

    • They are quite common and seem in Charlton Down at least to occur on most of the dog roses. They don’t stay bright red for very long but wither to brown eventually, so are less noticeable then.

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