{"id":4427,"date":"2014-04-25T12:34:55","date_gmt":"2014-04-25T17:34:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/treefolkstest.wpengine.com\/?p=4427"},"modified":"2014-04-25T12:34:55","modified_gmt":"2014-04-25T17:34:55","slug":"4427","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.treefolks.org\/es\/2014\/04\/25\/4427\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s that weird thing growing on my oak tree?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Apple\u201cMy oak tree suddenly has large green growths on it \u2013 what\u2019s wrong with it?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Galls on oaks are a common sight in Central Texas.\u00a0 The good news is that they\u2019re unlikely to harm your tree.\u00a0 This is especially good news because controlling them is difficult and potentially harmful to your tree\u2019s ecosystem.<\/p>\n

The gall pictured above is called \u201cOak Apple Gall\u201d and is caused by a wasp \u2013 a cynipid wasp to be exact.\u00a0 The adult cynipid wasp is very small, similar in size to fruit fly and is not harmful to humans in any way.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, it\u2019s caused by a wasp, but why?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

In short, the gall protects the developing larva.\u00a0 The female cynipid wasp lays her eggs in a developing leaf.\u00a0 The developing larva secretes hormones that cause the oak\u2019s leaf to grow into a gall rather than the typical leaf structure.\u00a0 This gall provides food and shelter for the developing larva.\u00a0 Eventually the larva will emerge as an adult and the gall will typically fall off the tree.<\/p>\n

\u201cShould I do something about it?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Not really.\u00a0 If it really bothers you because you think it is unsightly, you can trim them off the tree; but in general, you should learn to ignore it or appreciate its own strange beauty.\u00a0 In the right light, the galls will appear almost translucent.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, where should I go to learn more?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

As always, our friends at Agrilife Extension have good resources for us:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/insects.tamu.edu\/extension\/publications\/epubs\/e-397.cfm<\/a>
\nhttp:\/\/agrilife.org\/etg\/2008\/04\/16\/oak_apple_gall_a_curiosity\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0Rebecca Johnson is TreeFolks Education and Outreach Coordinator and is a ISA Certified Arborist TX 3567-A<\/h5>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cMy oak tree suddenly has large green growths on it \u2013 what\u2019s wrong with it?\u201d Galls on oaks are a common sight in Central Texas.\u00a0 The good news is that…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[58,53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4427","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-dcg","category-tree-care"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t