Natures Bobbers

I was walking in the back yard this morning and came across what I thought was a kids ball that maybe I ran over with the lawnmower. Hard on the outside and filled with foam on the inside.
After closer inspection I realized the marks were not from a lawnmower but from a squirrels teeth.
There were a couple of more of these things around.
It turns out they were from one of the many oak trees around the yard.
If I didn't know any better I would swear the inside was synthetic. Looks and feels like hard foam.
These things float very high and are extremely durable.
So if you ever need a bobber in a pinch or maybe you forgot the float for your camera and oak trees are around, look to use one of these.

Pic 1..on the tree
Pic 2.. closer view
Pic 3.. how they float
Pic 4.. what's inside

Those are oak galls.

A little gall wasp lays eggs in the oak tree. The tree isolates the infected area of cambien. Months later you have 'oak galls'.

Those are oak galls.

A little gall wasp lays eggs in the oak tree. The tree isolates the infected area of cambien. Months later you have 'oak galls'.

Learn something new everyday.
Does this mean that this gall will provide me with a bobber and live bait too???? 

There are over 300 species of gall wasps. They do look like a flying ant so if there is a flying ant hatch and you just happen to catch one emerging...maybe. 

-Brian G

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