By Anne Schuster, conservation specialist at Wolf Haven International

Honeypot galls caused by a cynipid wasp If you ever find yourself standing amongst oaks, look up to the branches or down at the fallen oak leaves. You will probably see some funny looking knobby round things stuck to the branches and leaves. These oddities are called galls. Galls are abnormal structures that grow on plants as a result of invading viruses, bacteria, fungi, mistletoe, nematodes, mites, and most often, insects (especially wasps).  In addition to wasps, there are species of fly, moth, beetle and true bugs that also make plant galls. The good news is that the types of wasps that cause galls do not sting.