Acorns

[coasty]

It seems to me that wet years you get bumper fruit harvests, But dry years give you bumper nuts....

Talking of which my wife worked in saisburys for years ,,, One evening a guy came through her till with loads of fruit and stuff and as she told what the stuff was costing she said the immortal words ,,," one pound sixty for your bananas , eighty pence for your nuts,,,,,," Result nearly wet herself laughing and got a ticking of from the supervisor,,,,

[goosey]

Originally Posted by Deer Stalker

Hi Goosey.

Those are Spangle galls caused by the Gall Wasp Neuroterus quercusbaccarum. The wasps that hatch from these in spring are all parthenogenetic females (they produce offspring without mating). They lay their eggs in Oak catkins which induce Currant galls on the catkins. The sexual generation (male & female wasps) emerge from these, mate, & lay eggs on the leaves, which produce Spangle galls again.

There are many different Gall Wasps on Oak, all producing different galls usually on the buds & leaves. Ones that look like they take the place of the acorns are Knopper, Marble & Artichoke Galls to name but a few.

Great informative answer Deer Stalker. Much apprecited thanks, just to think four days ago I knew nothing of Galls .

[goosey]

More Oak gall questions I am afraid - now I have discovered them there is no stopping me

Are spangle galls unilocular or plurilocular?

I found these today , are these also spangle galls, the large ones being at a differrent stage in developement to the smaller ones?

1.


2.

Thank you.

[Deer Stalker]

Hi Goosey.

I think Spangle galls are unilocular.

The other gall you've found is the Cherry gall, made by the wasp Cynips quercusfolii (unilocular again I think). They have a similar life-cycle to the Spangle gall wasps, the parthenogenetic females emerging from the Cherry galls & laying eggs in buds, which give rise to the sexual generation.

[goosey]

Originally Posted by Deer Stalker

Hi Goosey.

I think Spangle galls are unilocular.

The other gall you've found is the Cherry gall, made by the wasp Cynips quercusfolii (unilocular again I think). They have a similar life-cycle to the Spangle gall wasps, the parthenogenetic females emerging from the Cherry galls & laying eggs in buds, which give rise to the sexual generation.

Do you mean that both photos of the large "apple looking galls" are the cherry galls and the scabby ones on the same leaf are the spangle galls .
sorry

[Deer Stalker]

Originally Posted by goosey

Do you mean that both photos of the large "apple looking galls" are the cherry galls and the scabby ones on the same leaf are the spangle galls .
sorry

Yep.

[goosey]

Great thanks - I am glad that is sorted in my mind .