Galls

[Ian Watson]

We finally returned to the Goldenrods to collect a few galls for dissection.

Nikon Zf, 24-70/4S

[Ian Watson]

These were brought home to be studied by two eager young scientists. (My son for the biology, my daughter for the chance to use tools.) We started with scalpels but these proved insufficient against the very thick walls of the galls. So we resorted to a large kitchen knife 

Inside one of the galls we found a moving larva. Although we were not prepared to keep it alive until maturity, my son was happy to see proof that an insect was responsible for the galls.

Nikon Zf, Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/4 AI

[ColinM]

Nice project Ian
(and thank you Birna for providing the initial feedback on Ian's original image)

This might seem like a specialist topic, but I've been fascinated by the different galls that now form on oak trees in the UK. 20-30 years ago, they were generally brown,  smooth & round.

I understand that when imports of Turkish varieties of oak started to arrive in the UK, they came with a parasite that now creates really knobbly uneven shaped galls on oaks
The proportion of healthy acorns seems much fewer each year now too.

[Birna Rørslett]

I'll post a few gall pictures of my own later. For now, kudos to Team Ian and their initial dive into the fascination field of cecidology (=gall science).

If you open several galls, you might even find gall larva parasites. That is, a parasite on the parasite. Small parasitic weevils are often the perpetrator and wil kill and devour the wasp grub.

[Hugh_3170]

Kudos to the two young scientists and to yourself Ian for encouraging them.

These were brought home to be studied by two eager young scientists. (My son for the biology, my daughter for the chance to use tools.) We started with scalpels but these proved insufficient against the very thick walls of the galls. So we resorted to a large kitchen knife 

Inside one of the galls we found a moving larva. Although we were not prepared to keep it alive until maturity, my son was happy to see proof that an insect was responsible for the galls.

Nikon Zf, Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/4 AI

[Ian Watson]

Thank you Colin, Birna and Hugh.

I have taken the liberty of replacing the overly dark photograph with a brightened version.