squid_ink: (bee by gold_lily)
squid_ink ([personal profile] squid_ink) wrote2010-05-11 11:26 am

what came first, the tree or the egg?

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 [livejournal.com profile] entomology & [livejournal.com profile] 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
squeeze me, lime!



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
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.

[identity profile] nyarbaggytep.livejournal.com 2010-05-11 08:23 pm (UTC)(link)
I like the crazy tree!

[identity profile] clownprincess.livejournal.com 2010-05-12 02:15 am (UTC)(link)
crazy cool things! (not the avocado... i just want to nibble it up)
those wasp balls are nuts!

[identity profile] clownprincess.livejournal.com 2010-05-12 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
oops, limon!
wow, unemployment has me all messed up

[identity profile] the-lighthouse.livejournal.com 2010-05-12 01:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow - I've seen those things before but just assumed they were a type of seed. Interesting!

That's a crazy tree.

[identity profile] biting-moopie.livejournal.com 2010-05-15 01:32 pm (UTC)(link)
You take the best pictures. LOVE the pretzel tree, I just want to climb it!

my husband said OMG WHAT THE HECK IS THAT I HOPE YOU DIDN'T SNEEZE...!!

LOL aw :) The oak apple gall wasp is amazing. I've never seen anything like it. And it looks so much like a plant! Who knew that there were bugs inside?

Mr Squeeze is a pretty tough guy! Look at him carrying that giant lemon under his arm. I am swooning.

[identity profile] biting-moopie.livejournal.com 2010-05-15 01:33 pm (UTC)(link)
And I hope you can find a new place to do tai chi, bb!