Mystery eggs - Ask Extension
Good morning! I brought some woody cuttings inside to root and in the last week or so their new tender growth has what look like insect eggs all over....
Knowledgebase
Mystery eggs #861338
Asked March 13, 2024, 12:46 PM EDT
Good morning! I brought some woody cuttings inside to root and in the last week or so their new tender growth has what look like insect eggs all over. I haven't seen suspicious insects around the house, though there is a resident jumping spider in the window. Any insight on what they could be?
Union County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Liz,
That is very interesting! I am not sure what those are. They look similar to slug eggs. Here is a link with a good photo of slug eggs for comparison...
https://simpleshowing.ghost.io/slug-eggs-in-soil-how-to-identify-what-to-do-with-them/
However, I've never seen slug eggs deposited on plant stems before. I've only seen them in clusters in the soil or in damp, decaying organic matter. The unusual placement of these things makes me suspect that they are something else, but I am not sure what.
To protect your cuttings, I think the best bet would be to remove and destroy all of those egg-like objects. If you are curious though, you could gently remove some of them and place them into a sealed plastic tub to check over a few weeks whether anything hatches out.
Sorry to not have a definitive answer for you, but hope that at least helps a bit.
That is very interesting! I am not sure what those are. They look similar to slug eggs. Here is a link with a good photo of slug eggs for comparison...
https://simpleshowing.ghost.io/slug-eggs-in-soil-how-to-identify-what-to-do-with-them/
However, I've never seen slug eggs deposited on plant stems before. I've only seen them in clusters in the soil or in damp, decaying organic matter. The unusual placement of these things makes me suspect that they are something else, but I am not sure what.
To protect your cuttings, I think the best bet would be to remove and destroy all of those egg-like objects. If you are curious though, you could gently remove some of them and place them into a sealed plastic tub to check over a few weeks whether anything hatches out.
Sorry to not have a definitive answer for you, but hope that at least helps a bit.
https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/2009/6-3/grapepearls.html
Does this sound likely? Grape pearls/sap balls?
Hi again, Liz,
Well, I can't say for sure because my specialty is identifying insects and other invertebrates. And although I am a gardener, I don't have any formal training in plant physiology.
I think sap balls could be one possibility, but I have never seen them when I've tried to propagate from cuttings. From the link you sent, it also seems like the appearance of sap balls may be mainly on grapes, but its seems like you had these objects on at least 2 types of plants.
To err on the side of caution in protecting your cuttings, I think it would still be a good idea to remove those objects, whether they are eggs or sap ball. That way, you won't have any damage.
Let me know if there is anything else you figure out.
Best wishes!
Well, I can't say for sure because my specialty is identifying insects and other invertebrates. And although I am a gardener, I don't have any formal training in plant physiology.
I think sap balls could be one possibility, but I have never seen them when I've tried to propagate from cuttings. From the link you sent, it also seems like the appearance of sap balls may be mainly on grapes, but its seems like you had these objects on at least 2 types of plants.
To err on the side of caution in protecting your cuttings, I think it would still be a good idea to remove those objects, whether they are eggs or sap ball. That way, you won't have any damage.
Let me know if there is anything else you figure out.
Best wishes!
