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Insect Gallery

Galls

These strange growths on plants are the result of insects laying eggs in them.  Each insect places its eggs in the same region of the plant: leaf vein, node, etc.  The plant builds a fiberous form that the larve lives in.  Unless the infestation is extream, the galls are not harmful to the plant.

? Common Name **zx 1** Scientific Name

Tan ball about 1" round.  The surface is grainy.  Ants feed off the drops oozing from the surface.

Growing on a Live Oak tree at leaf node.

Photo taken in Taylor County, Texas, September 2004

Hunting Similar Species

Mealy-oak Gall Disholcaspis cinerosa, a wasp

Oak Apple Gall Amphibolips confluenta, a wasp

? Common Name **zx 2** Scientific Name

Red / pink / orange balls, most are about 1/4" round.  The surface is fuzzy.

Growing on the under side of Live Oak leaves.

Photo taken in Taylor County, Texas, September 2004

? Common Name **zx 3a** Scientific Name

This is probably a gall.  Red 1/8" round-ish blobs or fuzzy coating.

Growing on Storks Bill leaves.

Photo taken in Taylor County, Texas, April 2005

Similar (or the same) Species

? Common Name **zx 3b** Scientific Name

This is probably a gall.  Red 1/8" round-ish blobs or fuzzy coating.

Growing on weed near a pond.

Photo taken in Taylor County, Texas, September 2005

? Common Name **zx 5** Scientific name

Fuzzy golden ball about 1" round.

Growing on the back of a Post Oak leaf.

Photos taken in Van Zandt County, Texas, November 2006

? Common Name **zx 6** Scientific name

Ribbed gall, 3/8" tall and perpendicular to leaf.

Growing on the top of a Winged Elm leaf.

Photos taken in Van Zandt County, Texas, November 2006

Hunting Similar Species

Nail Galls = Eriophyes tiliae = mite

Slippery Elm Pouch Galls are elongated pouches on the upper surface of elm leave. Filled by female aphids and their offspring. Usually, only one gall occurs per leaf.

? Common Name **zx 7** Scientific name

Growing on sweet corn cob.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, August 2008

? Common Name **zx 8** Scientific name

Galls about 1/8" tall. Inside is a tiny yellow orange larve.

Growing on Catclaw Mimosa, replacing single leaflet.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, September 2006

? Common Name **zx 9** Scientific name

Gall about 1/2" wide.

Growing on Catclaw Mimosa at thorn node.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, September 2006

? Common Name **zx 10** Scientific name

It seems all the insects are gone from this infestation.

Growing on the top of a Red Oak leaf.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, November 2005

? Common Name **zx 11** Scientific name

Very white fluff balls.

Growing on the bottom vein of a Live Oak leaf.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, November 2005

? Common Name **zx 12** Scientific name

Most of the seeds are infested.

Growing on Streambed Bristlegrass.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, October 2007