Anyone know what this is?

[HillBill]

Hi guys.

Can anyone id this for me please.

It was found growing from a rose branch on the 1st September.... very firm/dense, and when cut open contained a few small white grubs/larvae. Never seen anything like it before.

Thanks.

 

[Mesquite]

It's a Rose Gall

 

[HillBill]

Nice one Steve.

 

[Robson Valley]

Spectacular! Phytoparasitic insect larvae can produce a variety of chemicals which disrupt normal plant growth and development.
That's the best I've ever seen. A "gall," yes. Look into parasites of roses and see what you can find.

 

[dwardo]

I would have gone for triffid egg!

 

[British Red]

I think its actually a Robins Pincushion Gall

 

[Toddy]

That's what I know them as too. The robin would enjoy those wee maggots

M

 

[Harvestman]

As said above, Robins Pincushion, otherwise known as Bedeguar gall, on dog rose. Caused by the gall wasp Diplolepis rosae. It is a pleurilocular gall, which is to say there are multiple eggs inside it, each of which hatches into a little grub, as seen in your last shot of it split open. The eggs make the plant grow abnormally, so that the larvae can then feed on the extra tissue provided whilst being protected from predators.

 

[David LaFerney]

It's very interesting. Almost looks like a mass of roots. Thanks for the pictures - and the diagnosis.

 

[awarner]

Saw these in my local woods for the first time this year, quite a few on one bush.

 

[spandit]

Wonder if they'd make good tinder once dry?

 

[Harvestman]

Wonder if they'd make good tinder once dry?

There speaks a bushcrafter

 

[HillBill]

Sorry guys, i missed a lot of the replies to this... my bad!

Thanks.

Its an interesting thing for me, never come across it before and your input is much appreciated.

Is this the same beastie which is responsible for Oak apples?

 

[British Red]

Same type of thing Mark but different wasp

 

[bushwacker bob]

Sorry guys, i missed a lot of the replies to this... my bad!

Thanks.

Its an interesting thing for me, never come across it before and your input is much appreciated.

Is this the same beastie which is responsible for Oak apples?

Close relative, gall wasps are many and each species produces a different shaped gall

 

[Adze]

I think its actually a Robins Pincushion Gall

Found a photo of you BR!

"But Nutkin gathered robin's pincushions from a briar bush and stuck them full of pine needle pins"

 

[British Red]

In my younger days!

 

[Goatboy]

In my younger days!

Bright eyed & bushy tail'd

Sent via smoke-signal from a woodland in Scotland.