Gall wasps (don't worry - they're tiny and stingless!) are nature's oldest genetic engineers. In fact, several other kinds of insects (and fungi!) can also create galls, which are structure plant growth induced by the insect (or fungi) to support their lifecycle.
Find out how they do, and how to find them in this quick introduction.
Better still, upload your gall pics to iNaturalist! There are periodic events called "Gall Week" to help encourage you to contribute to science by documenting your observations on iNaturalist.
Spring 2024 Gall Week: April 20 through April 28
Document your observations on iNaturalist, join this project:
www.inaturalist.org/projects/...
And as you upload galls, add them to the gall week project!
Learn How to Upload Photos to iNaturalist (a free app that helps ID what you see):
/ @jumpstartnature
Learn more about galls:
Webinar by Merav Vonshak and Michael Hawk, presented to the Lorquin Entomological Society
• The Wonders of Plant G...
Nature's Archive Podcast about galls:
naturesarchive.com/2021/09/14...
Check out a past Gall Week iNaturalist Project to see what it looks like:
www.inaturalist.org/projects/...
00:00 Discovering Nature's Genetic Engineers
00:15 The Fascinating World of Galls
00:29 Understanding Gall-Making Wasps
00:47 The Ecosystem Importance of Galls
01:22 Introducing Gall Week: A Citizen Science Event
01:47 How to Participate in Gall Week
02:16 Encouragement and Final Thoughts