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Photo#470283
Odd Oak Gall - Kokkocynips rileyi

Odd Oak Gall - Kokkocynips rileyi
Montrose, Laurens County, Georgia, USA
October 31, 2010
Size: unrecorded
I haven't ever seen this kind of gall before. What sort of (I am assuming) wasp makes this?

Images of this individual: tag all
Odd Oak Gall - Kokkocynips rileyi Odd Oak Gall - Kokkocynips rileyi

Moved

Moved
Moved from Gall Wasps.
I just wrote a blog post about these galls. I'd forgotten that you had posted these images, but since then I and a few other people have found them in Massachusetts and Maryland on red oak, and they apparently occur in Illinois as well.

Moved
Moved from Unidentified Galls. Weld only lists three types of detachable galls on Quercus nigra, and all are simply described as "globular." This does resemble the gall of Dryocosmus deciduus, but that one erupts in clusters from an opening in the midvein, whereas this one looks like it's barely attached. I bet it's another species of Dryocosmus--maybe it's a gall that's known from another species of oak.

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

Host plant?
Identification of the gall would be greatly enhanced by identification of the host tree species. If you're not sure, post a photo with a wider view of the leaf and we'll try to ID that for you. Also, be sure to note whether the galls are on the upper or the lower surface of the leaf.

 
It was on
an oak (I'm not sure which kind) leaf on the topside attached to the central vein. If it helps I can post a photo of the entire leaf to clarify the exact species. We have several kinds of oak in the front and back (red, pin, white, etc.), but I haven't gotten around to ID'ing them specifically.

 
Water Oak?
Looks like a water oak from the foliage, but not sure.

 
Yes
Water Oak (Quercus nigra), a member of the red oak group.

 
Correction.....
I don't know where my head is these days, but that should read "oak leaf on the *downside*".... *not* on the top. Sorry about that...

 
Photo
Yes, a photo of an entire leaf of this oak tree would be helpful because many galls are specific to species within Quercus.

Bears some resemblance to
Dryocosmus deciduus:



But I know nothing about these, and I'm sure there are other possibilities. Wait to hear from Charley. :)

Looks delicious
It looks like creamy topping on top of dessert fruit or chocolate.

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