kimberlietx's Favorites

While I was collecting Polystepha galls to rear out, I noticed quite a few galls that were much smaller, not as crackly textured, and seemed to be different than the Polystepha globosa they appeared with. Even the larvae were different colored. Separated them out into a different rearing container on the off chance I can get adults to compare with P. globosa.

I collected and measured 16. Average size 1.7mm compared to P. globosa which is 2.6mm.

Soooo many Triodanis observations. They are prizes for @Kimberlietx, who challenged me to find like 100 species. LOL. City Nature Challenge Day 2: Dallas - Fort Worth (DFW). Observing at a residential retention pond with a wooded trail that is adjacent to the Hickory Creek Arm of Lewisville Lake in Denton County, Texas.

On Quercus stellata. Based on previous feedback most likely A. murtfeldtae or maxwelli

@calconey @megachile @kimberlietx @jeffdc, collected some of these same galls from a tree near the previous observation (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/74158192). Have the stem in my posession and left some galls on the tree. I can add any perspectives or try any methods (dissection, letting them hatch to see what comes out, etc., if you can walk me through the necessary steps to do so) that would help in identifying these galls to species level. Many thanks for the help and enthusiasm in identifying these so far.

Shumard Oak

The wool comes off in an average manner. (Not too easily, but not too difficult either.) The galls seemed to be tiny kernels (Pic 7) stuck together with long irregular length wool that "doesn't have visible segments at all; the longer, straighter wool from each kernel just blends together" to quote @megachile They were firmly involved in the midvein and not easy to remove. They were slightly smaller than a sesame seed.

I had to key this one out. The really wide pores made me think it might be T. lamprosperma, but the bracts are longer than wide and the leaves are broadly acute to obtuse, which are both key characters of T. perfoliata.