What in the Woods Is That?

Play our biweekly guessing game!

Whatever draws us into the forest—be it birdwatching or logging, hiking or hunting—all of us are unified by the sense of wonder we feel in the outdoors. The forests, fields, and streams of our region are full of mystery, and if you stop and look closely, you’ll see all sorts of oddities.

Below find a picture of one such woodlands curio. Guess what it is and you’ll be eligible to win a Northern Woodlands woodpecker magnet designed by artist Liz Wahid. A prize winner will be drawn at random from all the correct entries. The correct answer, and the winner’s name, will appear when the next column is posted and in our newsletter (sign up here!).

Cone You Believe It?

While out walking in a wetland in Lyme, New Hampshire, we found a whole thicket of...pinecone bearing hardwood shrubs?!? What is going on in this photo?

Answer

These aren’t actual cones, but willow pine cone galls, created by midges (Rabdophaga strobiloides). In summer, female midges deposit their eggs at the tips of willow stems. Over time, as the larvae feed, they secrete chemicals that disrupt the normal growth of the stems and prompt the stems to produce cone-like structures. During the winter, the hard-bodied galls provide the developing midges insulation and protection from predators.

This week’s contest winner was Barbara Strell