what came first, the tree or the egg?

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I was hiking Sunday (boy was it blustery!) in Southford (CT) Falls State Park when I saw THIS:



a while later, I found a second one (also in the picture, further back). The orb measures about an inch, it's soft to the touch. The smaller one is harder.

I wrapped it in a tissue and put it in my pocket.. I took it out a little later and my husband said OMG WHAT THE HECK IS THAT I HOPE YOU DIDN'T SNEEZE...!!



I'm pretty sure it's an oak gall wasp. There are 70 different types of wasp, here's a nice little link (featuring the FIERCE Sir David Frederick Attenborough). A very similar gall is featured at the 3:45 mark:

Our Earth Life in the Undergrowth: Oak Tree and Wasp Eggs

I'm pretty sure it's from an oak tree. The leaves appear to be opposite and lobed, and oaks are alternate.. but one set of leaves is so small I could be mistaken.

xposted to entomology & gardening

ETA: It's an Oak Apple Gall Wasp (Biorhiza pallida)



and my food is talking to me (again)

Squeeze me Mr Limon verde!
mr squeeze




More from Sunday in Southford

there was a VERY cool tree all curled up like a pretzel. It was growing and quite healthy, it must have been 30 feet tall. Here's the base ~

pretzel tree


it was a nice little park, but so cold! We had a freeze last night, not sure what's up with this weather.



in sad news, the centerI take tai chi has closed :(
I am SUPREMELY bummed out about this, it was a nice little spot and so pretty, by a river. I'll have to get in touch with my tai chi teacher for more info, she does teach elsewhere, but I'm not sure it'll be quite the same.

I try and embrace change but sometimes it's hard.