HELP ........Identify these strange puffy balls under oak?

Virginia Beach, VA

Here is a pic of these puffy balls found under our oak tree every year (only a few here and there). I remember them as kids I use to think they were big spider pouches with 1000's of baby spiders inside,LOL..
Anyway I said they were a deformed acorn that just didnt grow like the others.........or is it something else?

Thanx,Edd

Thumbnail by Mredd00
Camano Island, WA(Zone 8a)

I think it's an oak gall. Apparently, there are different varieties of galls. Different types of wasps (hence the different types of galls), lay eggs in leaf buds and the wasp larvae secrete chemicals that form the gall.

Scott County, KY(Zone 5b)

Yes - this is definitely an oak gall. As stated, there are many types and are often specific to the type of oak species.

If you were to supply that information, an exact ID of which gall-making insect might be possible.

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