What is this? My boys and I saw it hanging from an oak tree in Camassia yesterday.
Maybe it’s a gall?
Remember a couple of weeks ago when I posted about an oak gall wasp that affected leaves? The link is here. We saw a lot of these leaf galls laying on the ground while we hiked. But, this one is different.
It is likely a California Oak Gall Wasp and it affects twigs. The gall wasp lays its eggs inside of the bark. Then, according to National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects & Spiders, the larvae bore further into the wood. This causes the tree to grow these large galls around the wound. The larvae then feed on the inside of the gall until they mature. Once they become adults, they leave the gall and the females will eventually lay their eggs on another oak. Interestingly, like some other insects, the adults do not eat. These galls start off green but become brown and red as they age.
Here’s two more. They were all over the place inside the reserve. They can get as large as 4 inches across. That is huge!
These are so cool…never heard or seen one of these! Thanks for sharing!
This was interesting. Does this only happen to the California Oak and this wasp is only located in this region?
There are many different types of gall wasps that live off of many different types of trees. I’m sure there is one in a forest near you!
Wow! This is so cool. Never heard of them before. I’m heading over to your Oregon Oak Gall link now.
wow, I always wondered what those were. We use to play with them as though they were balls. Thank you for sharing this info, as well as your wonderful photos.
Even trees can come up in boils when they are stung, amazing. The poor tree, lovely closeups of it though and thanks for sharing:)
I’ll leave them in the tree, thank you very much. Now that I read what they are, I’m thinking even MORE eerie. LOL Excellent photos.
Maneki Neko [My macro Link]
Do stop by to visit if you can. Have a great day.
Galls are fascinating! I remember seeing many oak galls where I lived when I was a kid so thanks for the memories.
Wow…that is interesitng, have never heard or seen one of these. Makes me wonder if they exist in my corner of the world. We have lots of oak trees,,I will have to keep my eyes open!
Wow, how odd…isn’t nature amazing?! Great shots.