I'm out mowing the yard the other evening and when I am trimming around one of the 10 Red Oak trees that I planted about 13-14 years ago, I see these green balls attached to some of the leaves, I'm thinking "oh great, what kind of calamity is about to befall my Oak trees now?!" Looks about like green grapes, but with brown dots all over them. And I noticed them on several of the trees too. I looked it up and found this...very interesting, never heard of "Oak Apple Galls" before...anyone else? before. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/oak/oak-apple-gall-info.htm
We've never been concerned about them around here. Some trees have a lot of them some have none. Wonder what the wasps look for in an oak tree? If there are a lot could it mean the tree is stressed? I have no idea but would also like to know.
I've seen those kind of galls before, but around here our shingle oak trees get galls that eventually can cause the trees to die off. These are horned/gouty oak galls that choke off the flow in the branches. Biology and Control of Horned/Gouty Oak Galls
Theyre tasty. Youll feel very relaxed, almost zen like after 20 minutes. Maybe even see pretty rainbow colors too. Just kidding...DO NOT EAT THEM! No idea, but have seen them around here too.
A few are harmless. On rare occasions, there can be so many (galls) they kill a tree. I have seen a tree with hundreds of the galls kill the tree. If you like the tree, I would research a treatment.
Yes, oak tree gall. I think the wasp is called an oak tree wasp, but I'm not sure about that, would have to look up the latin/classification name of the wasp. The wasp larvae supposedly secretes a chemical compound of some sort that reacts with the tree and pretty much gets the tree to grow a home for the larvae and maybe some sustenance as well. I'm pretty sure cutting it off from life support kills the larvae as long as the ball is still green. Getting the tree to grow a home is a pretty neat trick, IMO.
Alien eggs. Don’t let your face get too close to it or it might open up and attach something to your face and shove something down your throat that’ll hatch.
Not sure what is in them but watched a Cardinal tear into one last week and eat the insides out of it.
They're not even 15 YO yet...wouldn't be much of a drop...all ten tree's would barely make enough wood for one good campfire. We'll all be long gone before they are big enough to "harvest"
