The mighty oaks and their galls are an endless source of curiosity. This particular type, a hard, fruit-like structure, is created by a tiny wasp, which essentially irritated the tree into making them for their larva.
Clever boots! The trees are Swamp White Oak (Q. bicolor), according to the Street Tree Map. (I’m waiting on some leaves to see if I can confirm that.)
The wasp’s exit hole. I think these are Disholcaspis genus gall wasps. D. quercusmamma perhaps? (Why, yes, a translation of that would be “oak breasts.”)
Oak Galls
2 responses to “Oak Galls”
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Is that an exit hole or the bore hole of a predator? I’ve seen both descriptions.
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I think it’s an exit hole, based on some other photos I’ve seen, but you raise a very good ? Larva are delicious, evidently… A parasitic wasp is probably an option, too.
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Backyard and Beyond 
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