What is this in my Oaktree?

robinfl

An Oaktree in my front yard is full of these lumps and I'm wondering what it could be. A second oak has started getting them, however not as bad. I'm wondering if it could be an insect infestation and what can be done about it. Thanks.

Eric Frei

They're galls.

Many types, dont really get them here so you need to see which type you have and maybe treat the pest doing it.

They generally dont damage the tree, again, need to verify which one your tree has.

oak gall - Google Image Search

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robinfl

Thanks. How do I go about determining which type they are, (a local nursery maybe)?

pcarborist

How big is the tree? You may be able to prune them out, place in a plastic bag and dispose.

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parkcityarborist

newguy18

Classic,galls are really common to water oaks[which is what your trees is btw]
In my experiance they don't affect the tree to much and i usually just leave them alone,however if a client really wants them gone,i will carefully cut them with a pair of loppers so as not to damage the bark to badly.It appears you have gouty oak gall,

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old schooler

treeseer

Good job by newguy. It can be controlled by acephate trunk drench in spring. good idea to prune out where you can.

Eric Frei

What about Imidachlorprid as a drench?

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newguy18

Thanks Guy,Like i said i just prune them off is paid to,i'm not really into the spraying or chemical aspect of tree work.I even demoss by hand.

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old schooler

treeseer

me too tho i like the polesaw for this task too.

Garry Brockley

me too but with a stiff hand brush too. i use my hayate extendable pole with a loper system to remove the small burls

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pawjordan

Oak tree gall trivia:
The ink used to write the Declaration of Independence was made from oak tree galls.

treeseer

A lopper head on that heavy hayate pole? I'd like to see a pic of that.

Garry Brockley

Your wish is my command. i can use it up to two sections with the rope that came with it but if i need higher i attach my throw line.

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treeseer

That i think is the huayuche pole; much lighter than the hayate. In any case, very handy to reach and make small cuts farther out and keep the chainsaw on the ground unless needed.

newguy18

Polepruners come in handy for removeing misletoe from the very extremities of trees as well.

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old schooler

treevet

Oak galls...generally caused by mini wasps that lay their eggs in the twigs and this irritates the twig to form these galls. Generally not of enough significance to even react to them.

treeseer

Generally, maybe, but specifically these ARE significant!!! This is gouty oak gall, as ID'd by newguy, and it kills branches.

Search Callirhytis for details.

LeifR

I'd wish I had a bunch of those galls.... .

Galls, small burls, rests and pieces are fine stuff for the lathe. So, don't throw them away. Find some woodturner and ask him (her?) what he can do with them.



Leif.

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H. convergens

Speaking specifically to horned oak galls (caused by same genus of wasp),
it's my understanding that occasional pruning or one-time treatments are inadequate to get this often devastating gall under control. Since it requires something like 3 years complete the life cycle, you'll need to manage serious cases for some longer period to break that life cycle. Arborists collaborating with entomologists at the University of Kentucky are about 5 years into a management strategy focused on cleaning up heavily infested trees at specific locations in the state. Treatment impact on beneficial insects has been of some concern, though that may be resolved by now.

The lead author on this early paper contributed greatly to understanding the biology of this pest. She's now on faculty at the University of Florida (Eileen <Eliason> Buss), so if this tree is valuable to you, you and your arborist should be able to obtain up to date management information through extension resources there.

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HORNED_OAK_GALL_eliason.pdf (114.4 KB, 19 views)

H. convergens

For LeifR -
The largest of these galls I've seen might approach the size of two golf balls. And the chambers within don't leave you much to work with.

For a sense of size in relation to foliage, twigs, car keys and so on, check here and here (click on thumbnail images for better view).

treeseer

Fascinating stuff--the best known control is a damaging pest on dogwoods etc.

Time to find another.

LeifR

Thanks for reply and links.
I realize that most of these galls (or burls?) are quite small. But they do not really need to be so big to be useful for some peculiar purpose. The cups on the picture are smaller than a golfball.


These ones are obviously big enough for a curious person who wants to experiment a little.


I have during a lot of years been collecting small "potatoes" of wood. I don't think these are caused by wasps, and they are a bit unlike the galls. They are growing on truncs, sometimes one and one, other times several together. When I see them, I get potatoes in mind. Their only connection to the tree is one or more "beaks". They may be knocked down from the trunk with a stone or a hammer.
A lot of these are smaller than the galls shown in the pictures in this thread. Some are hollow or cracked inside, some are not. They grow mostly on hardwood, but may be found on needlewood too.








Leif.

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treevet

Interesting read, excellent research. Left with a bit of a dilemma.

treevet

I am back from breakfast and this article gives me a chance to solidify my resolution to read start to finish any art. that crosses my path that is significant instead of putting it into the "read later" file.

This illustrates my point that the more you learn the more you find you do not know (although you know more than those who choose not to learn at all).

"Arthropods attack gall tissue because they do not have the ability to create their own galls"!

If you read all this like a short story with opportunistic insects waiting to attack under the right (and likely) circumstances and then, in turn, they are attacked, and so on and so on. Nature is amazing. To do battle with cultural practices and chemicals gives one the opinion of just how formidable this opponent is and how this oak cultivar (Quercus palestrus (sp?) is at their mercy.

newguy18

Water oak is Quercus nigra Dave.Even though they have somewhat of a bad reputation around here,noone can deny the benifits they also provide,when managed right they can be real good looking trees,although not as magnificant as the big live oaks.
Water oak - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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old schooler

treevet

The article that was provided mentioned Quercus palustris (Pin oak) as to the research done in control of galls.

treeseer

Hmm you're right, this would be a good basis for a plotline...maybe for a detective story...

Note also that this study is made available free to the world by the ISA, which imo makes it an organization worth supporting.

yo newguy there is nothing nigra-ish about that oak; looks more like laurifolia.

Leif, what happens to the trunk where those potatoes come off--does it rot?

treevet

Par 1. Don't forget the beneficials (Shigo used to call them "bonogens"-ever hear that term?) Detective.

Par 2. I throw plenty of my $upport their way. Bought well over $2K of books over years along with many many other expenditures. Got few complaints.

LeifR

No, the tree doesn't seem to suffer at all. It rather starts making new potatoes. But some of the lumps have wounds in the tip, probably from frost. But they go on growing, it looks like they try to cover the wound.

By the way, my intention with interrupting the serious discussion about galls and wasps was only this: Don't throw them away. They might be useful.

Leif.

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treevet

Throwing them away might be a better idea so they (inhabitants) do not multiply. Also if you take them in your warm house at the wrong time you may have a small wasp and other opportunistic creatures as guests. Don't see galls as a very good subject for art as they are not very woody or dense.