Q: We live on a fairly large heavily wooded lot with mostly oak trees. The problem we’re having is with the white oak trees only. A couple of weeks ago we noticed little brown pinhead-size, seed-like things dropping from them. Each leaf on each tree is affected. Over the last few days I’ve noticed a sticky substance dropping on our deck which is directly below two of the affected trees.

A: My guess is that you have a fine infestation of jumping oak galls. Have you seen them jump?

They are the result of a small wasp laying her eggs on leaf surfaces, causing the leaf to form hundreds of galls that enclose the eggs and give them a protected environment. Generally they are harmless to the tree. I doubt you’ll have such a problem next year.

Jumping Oak Galls