What is it?
Mr. Bug Man,
Very cool website. Hope you can help. We have some Sumac trees in our backyard and some of them have these ‘sacks’ on them. They are attached to a leaf and seem to be feeding off of it. They are seemingly air tight, when you squeeze gently they are like a miniature air pillow. When taken apart there is a small cotton ball inside that is very air born and there are what look like seeds or eggs, yellowish in color, many of them. The sacks are various sizes and some are turning red like an apple would. Sure would appreciate your thoughts. Thank you,
Doug Cornelius
Deansboro, NY

Hi Doug,
These are Sumac Galls. According to BugGuide, the galls contain Aphid Colonies.

Egg?
I looked through your egg photos and saw nothing that looked like my discovery. I know you are swamped so I’ll be patient. I found this "egg" on an oak (possibly Chestnut) leaf in East Central Indiana on July 25, 2007. The colors are beautiful and staturated with the little spikes surrounding the sphere. Hoping for a finding. Thank you,
Christie Coffey

Hi Christie,
This is not an egg but rather some type of Gall. We do not know enough about botany to be able to identify what tree your Gall is on, but that would be a great assistance. It is not the usual oak leaf we can identify, but there are many different species of oaks. Just assuming it is an oak, our Field Book of Insects written by Lutz and revised in 1948 states: “Oak. — More than three hundred different galls have been listed.” The University of Kentucky department of Entomology website states on its Common Oak Galls page: “Galls are irregular plant growths which are stimulated by the reaction between plant hormones and powerful growth regulating chemicals produced by some insects or mites. Galls may occur on leaves, bark, flowers, buds, acorns, or roots. Leaf and twig galls are most noticeable. The inhabitant gains its nutrients from the inner gall tissue. Galls also provide some protection from natural enemies and insecticide sprays. Important details of the life cycles of many gall-makers are not known so specific recommendations to time control measures most effectively are not available. ” Interestingly, The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction, which is celebrating its 60th Anniversary this year, is in Indiana. The Institute is named for Alfred Kinsey, who shocked the world when his best seller, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male was published in 1948. Kinsey’s attention to detail regarding research can be traced to his earlier, though far less provocative, studies on Gall Wasps. We would like to believe that your gall has been produced by one of the Gall Wasps in the family Cynipidae that so fascinated Alfred Kinsey. We cannot find an exact match to your Gall on BugGuide.

Backyard Something
This is attached to a lower branch of an oak tree in our backyard! Any ideas to what it may be? We live in Georgia near Atlanta.
Ralph W Sarc

Hi Ralph,
This is the second letter today requesting an ID for the Wool Sower Gall. We were sad the first had no photo and then we opened your letter. The Wool Sower Gall which is produced by a tiny wasp, Callirhytis seminator. Galls are growths on various parts of plants, usually caused by a Gall Wasp or a type of mite. There are many species of Gall Wasps, and each has a specific host plant. The oak tree is the host plant for the Wool Sower Gall.

Hello,
There is a baseball size cocoon hanging from a maple tree in my yard. It’s white with prickly looking brown things sticking out from it. I really did think it was a baseball for the longest time as I looked at it from my kitchen window. But upon further inspection it’s a cocoon. I’ll take a photo of it and send it along if you’d like me to. After searching the web I can’t figure out what type of cocoon it is. Can you help?
Thanks so much
Julie Worthy

Hi Julie,
You have a Wool Sower Gall which is produced by a tiny wasp, Callirhytis seminator. Galls are growths on various parts of plants, usually caused by a Gall Wasp or a type of mite. There are many species of Gall Wasps, and each has a specific host plant. The Wool Sower Gall used the oak tree, not a maple as a host. Your photo is of an oak tree. Here is a site with additional information.

thanks so much. you can see how much i know about trees from getting the type of tree incorrect. i’m just glad to know millions upon millions of spiders or something like that will not emerge come summer. thanks for your help. i love being able to get information from others on the web who are experts like yourself.
sincerely,
Julie Worthy