Oregon White Oak Gall

Erika and I were pleased to identify Oregon White Oaks along the Yelm-Tenino Bike Trail on 5 July 2020. These trees grow from California to British Columbia. In Washington, this oak is found west of the Cascades, and is especially common in the Puget Sound lowlands. Oregon White Oaks depend on fire to keep back fir forests and often are cut to prepare land for human industry. Some oak populations are greatly reduced, which is unfortunate as many other plants and animals depend on oak forests.

One Oregon Oak harbored two ping-pong-sized galls. Galls are produced on Oregon Oaks by at least six species of wasps and by other insects, which lay their eggs in them. Galls do not normally damage or kill the trees. Squirrels often do more damage as they destroy the galls and tree branches in search of insect larvae.