Naturally occurring hybrid of Quercus falcata and Q. nigra, which often has leaves similar in appearance to Q. georgiana but the buds and acorn cap scales are different. Both parental species are present here.

I wanted something a little special for my 500th species observation, so here is federally endangered American chaffseed, a great population found at first by Doug McGrady, then ID'd by Pam Polloni and Don Schall in 2018. This species reappeared after a 53 year absence from the bay state, and in a brand new location.

Enormous specimen for what is normally a shrubby species. About 6 meters tall, trunks around 20 cm DBH. Remnants of the sand pine scrub habitat that existed here before the cemetery was constructed. I do not know if this tree is still alive today.

Growing with Quercus geminata and a huge Q. inopina:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/69387777

This is a problematic cicada! Though clearly cassinii (that's all that has emerged in my location), it has an aberrant orange patch behind its right eye. The patch extends onto the pleura, and (interestingly) there is an orange patch on the right side of the head as well, between the eye and the cibarium (photo 5). This casts a little doubt on septendecim IDs made exclusively based on the presence of thoracic patches, and reinforces the importance of side + underside shots for ID.

I'll be interested to see if I encounter any more like this one; it may be a rare aberration.

Adults emerged 27Feb - 3March from galls collected 16Nov here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/65050591 They continue to emerge, so I'll try to get better pics next time. I have preserved them in vial 47 for ID confirmation and other scientific interest.

Reared from galls collected 12 Nov 2020. Emerged 26Feb - 3Mar 2021 following several days of rain and then a bright sunny day. Found one in the process of emerging and noted they exit from the side near the tip. About 14 wasps preserved in vial 44 for anyone interested. Galls also available.

Orig obsv: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/64764734

This is the unidentified/undescribed woolly Post Oak gall that I have seen and collected for rearing over the last few weeks. This observation will serve as my "field notes" on this species and the "type" observation, if such a thing can be.

Observations based on a collection of about 30 leaves at this location. (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/65443224)

Host Plant: Post Oak, Quercus stellata

A narrow dome-shaped gall firmly attached to the lower leaf surface on midrib; wool easily detaches leaving the cells "naked" on the leaves; wool pale to brownish yellow, but can also be reddish although not fully so. (Not as dark rufous/russet like Andricus pattoni.) No sign of gall on the upper leaf surface, but the attachment point on the midrib leaves a scar when galls are forcibly detached. (Not sure if this is evident if they naturally come off.) Some cells have a noticeably bumpy texture. Most commonly seen in groups of 2 that cannot be distinguished as separate galls unless wool is removed. Observed individuals and groups up to 5, most frequently in a row but occasionally bunched or clumped. The shape of the cells can be irregular when several appear together in a group.

Wasps have started emerging (in N Tex) by mid-Nov. (Since this gall stays attached to to the leaf instead of detaching and falling to the ground, I do not think they exit in larval form.)

I took some measurements for a previous observation that I am copying here for reference. Measured with wool attached as would be seen on the leaf untouched.
Average width: 3.9mm (compared to 13.7mm for A. pattoni)
Min-Max width: 1.8mm - 6.0mm
Median width: 3.9mm

I am dubbing this the Woolly Gumdrop Gall and setting up a Similar Observation Set ("postoak_gumdrop") to collect like observations until an ID can be made. Update: ID resolved, SOS removed.