The Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.), introduced into Britain in 1735, is required for the completion of the life cycle of the gall.

Therefore, as with most oak gall wasps, this species has alternate sexual and parthenogenetic (all female) generations.

The sexual generation develops in spring in small conical galls that form on the male catkins of the Turkey oak.

A. quercuscalicis appears to have arrived naturally from the continent, probably crossing the English Channel on high altitude wind currents.

[9] Knopper galls were first noted at Canonbie in southern Scotland in 1995[clarification needed] and their distribution is often restricted to old country and urban estates where the Turkey oak has been previously planted.