What's Your Nature?

Become a Nature Up North explorer to share your encounters with wild things and wild places in New York's North Country. Post your wildlife sightings, landscape shots, photos from your outings, and even your organization's events!

Pink Mystery

Posted by Justin Dalaba,
North Country explorer from
June 14, 2015 —

Can anyone help me identify this mysterious pink coloration? Is it a fungus? It looks quite beautiful growing along the veins of these maple leaves, but I'm not sure if it is harmful to the plant.

Comments

Erika Barthelmess

I'm sharing this with Claire Burkum to see if she knows!

Posted:

Claire Burkum

It does look very fungal, but I think it's a mite. http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/velvet_galls_caused_by_tiny_eriophyid_mites Probably does do some harm to each leaf, but the tree will make more leaves. Not too serious an issue, I think.

Posted:

Tim Connolly

Erineum gall?

Posted:

Justin Dalaba

Thanks for the helpful suggestions, it definitely looks a lot like the Erinuem Gall. Very interesting! I've never seen an insect gall like this before.

Posted: