neighbor's oak seedling

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betulo Moorestown, NJ(Zone 6b) Aug 03, 2009

Should I recommend he cuts it down to prevent propagation to grown-up trees?

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Aug 03, 2009

It looks like galls--ones on leaves like that typically don't really do damage to the trees so there's no need for him to do anything about it. http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/galls-oak

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Aug 03, 2009

No need to cut this down; these are leaf galls caused by a tiny wasp in the family Cynipidae - see http://tinyurl.com/nc4g3j for a similar example. The female wasp injects a substance that causes the plant cells to proliferate abnormally, forming a 'nest' of sorts where the wasp's larvae feed and develop. Although sometimes unsightly, these leaf galls cause no real harm to the tree. Oak trees are hosts to hundreds of species of gall-forming insects.

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betulo Moorestown, NJ(Zone 6b) Aug 03, 2009

Interesting... Thanks!!!

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betulo Moorestown, NJ(Zone 6b) Aug 03, 2009

OK, I was close to snapping a picture with adult bees swirling around these formations, but had to settle for a better picture with the galls in focus...

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