Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

Most Edible-looking Galls of the Season

Kokkocynips rileyi on Scarlet Oak/Quercus coccinea. A new paper says the caps on these attract ants.
This looks like it might be another Kokkocynips rileyi. On Northern Red Oak/Q. rubra.
Zopheroteras guttatum on Shingle Oak/Q. imbricaria.
Some of these are awfully small.
Zopheroteras sphaerula on Red Oak/Q. rubra
Andricus quercusstrobilanus on Swamp White Oak/Q. bicolor.
They look like they might be chewy, but are actually quite hard.
Philonix fulvicollis on White Oak/Q. alba. “On” except these had already fallen off the leaves and were underneath this majestic tree.
Andricus dimorphus on fallen White Oak leaf.
A lot of these are detachable and end up on the ground.

mthew

One response to “Most Edible-looking Galls of the Season”

  1. nature969

    Great photos of a fascinating phrnomenon! Thank you for identifying these galls!

    Reply

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