what are these weird red things?

June 12, 2009 1:21 PM

What the heck are these little red knobs growing on my tree?

I just noticed these yesterday - they are growing on the tree that's just outside my bedroom window, and I have no idea what they could be. fungus? bug eggs? aliens? I don't have a very good screen for my window, and I worry that they'll hatch or something and my room will be crawling with bugs. ack!

I live in downtown Toronto, if that helps. Thanks!

posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 to home & garden (8 comments total)

Need a closer look, but they are bug eggs of some kind.
posted by Drasher at 1:22 PM on June 12

They're wasp galls, and are pretty much harmless.
posted by dunkadunc at 1:29 PM on June 12

Also, previously.
posted by dunkadunc at 1:30 PM on June 12

They look a lot like these as linked from here.

So, some sort of insect gall and the consensus is that they're harmless.
posted by Nomiconic at 1:30 PM on June 12

They look like galls to me - probably harmless; see also this (scroll down to "Eggs and stuff").
posted by PontifexPrimus at 1:30 PM on June 12

Thanks! you guys are amazing!
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 1:38 PM on June 12

Maple Bladder Gall
posted by kuujjuarapik at 1:39 PM on June 12

Very common. It wouldn't be a normal year without my maples getting them to some extent.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:21 PM on June 12