Mysterious Tree Spheres in Missouri: Nature or Something Stranger?

Have you seen something unusual in the trees of Missouri that made you wonder if it's nature or something much more odd. Many are asking about strange spheres they're seeing and there is a reason to be concerned.

I saw this question asked on the Missouri sub-Reddit about a strange seed pod that was spotted in southern Missouri.

Strange seed pod found in south Missouri after a flood. Unsure what plant it came from, any ideas?
byu/theliberalpedestrian inwhatsthisplant

What is this unusual seed pod? More than one commenter spoke up and said it's known as an Oak Gall.

Here's the short version of what an oak gall is. It's formed by a wasp or a fly. It's the insects that are nourished by the tree, but the tree eventually rejects the foreign object and the oak gall dries up and falls to the ground.

Are oak galls in Missouri dangerous?

The good news is no. When you see a hole in the dried oak galls on the ground, that's where the wasps chew their way out prior to the oak gall drying up and falling to the ground. It looks like this.

Next time you see one of these odd spheres on a Missouri tree, now you'll know it's natural and not a sign that a tree apocalypse is upon you.