Ophelimus maskelli
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Ophelimus maskelli is a species of chalcid wasp about 1mm long, known as the eucalyptus gall wasp, indigenous to Australia and New Zealand, and invasive in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, North Africa, South Africa, tropical Asia (from Vietnam to Indonesia), and the United States (California). It is considered a plant pest as females lay eggs on immature eucalyptus leaves; the larvae produce galls on the leaves. Heavy infestations induce much galling which causes widespread defoliation and loss of growth. Wasps may emerge in large numbers in the spring, forming clouds which are a nuisance to humans.
In Australia and Israel members of the genus of fairy wasps, Stethynium, were being investigated in 2006 as possible biological control agents for Ophelimus maskelli. Releases of three parasitoids in Israel were successful in greatly reducing the numbers of O. maskelli, though only two of these parasitoids - Closterocerus chamaeleon (Eulophidae), and Stethynium ophelimi (Mymaridae) - subsequently proliferated and spread through the Mediterranean Basin, where they have proven to be excellent biological control agents. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Athens | 🇬🇷 Greece | |
| 2 | Sacramento | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | San Francisco | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Madrid | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 5 | San Diego | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | London | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 7 | Los Angeles | 🇺🇸 United States |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report an Australian Eucalyptus Leafgall Wasp sighting in London on a given day, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 1153rd most-seen of the 1504 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report an Australian Eucalyptus Leafgall Wasp in London on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
6th of 7
Of the 7 cities where we can rate Australian Eucalyptus Leafgall Wasp sightings, London ranks 6th at under 5%. The best odds are in Athens (Greece, about 10%), Sacramento (United States, under 5%) and San Francisco (United States, under 5%).
Same order: Hymenoptera
The closest relatives of the Australian Eucalyptus Leafgall Wasp that you can see in London (order Hymenoptera, Ants, Bees, Wasps, and Sawflies) are Common Carder Bumble Bee (about 40%), Buff-Tailed Bumble Bee (about 30%) and Hairy-Footed Flower Bee (about 30%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Australian Eucalyptus Leafgall Wasp is recorded against all the insects logged in London (8 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
