phoenixb 的最愛

Fuzzy galls on the underside of a Northern Red Oak leaf. I have observed some in previous years, but not nearly this many. A slight gust of wind and these looked like snow falling (October 10). Under the fuzz is a red kernel, about the size of a hackberry seed, or wild floribunda rose hip. Not crushable by squeezing in my fingers. Opening the kernel I found a small grub. My suspicion is a very small hymenoptera. Ants were observed harvesting the contents of the kernel, for food I assume (October 24). I collected some of the kernels and will keep them in a closed container until spring to see what emerges.