This baby grew some thorns
https://www.gallformers.org/gall/4807
Finally got a chance to revisit the site of https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/143630146 and sampled another three galls. Figuring they'd all be empty already, I sectioned one in the field and lucked out on a live adult female! Large, intact specimen with tons of golden setae, beautiful. Leaning Q. macrocarpa on the host for all three, probably the original find as well.
Been digging around on Gallformers trying to find something similar and the closest I've gotten is Cynips heldae (https://www.gallformers.org/gall/1368) - but the host/range/gall location don't match. Very similar structure, though.
observation date. (cup#401, tree#136). scale is 1mm. <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
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2022-12-06T09:01:29
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observation date. (cup#401, tree#136). scale is 1mm. <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
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2022-12-06T09:01:29
Camera Name:
Black and grey form together, black being chased by three greys. Unclear whether the chase was belligerent or connubial.