ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Neuroterus anthracinus

Okay kiddo, so imagine there's this little bug called a neuroterus anthracinus. It's really tiny, like so tiny you wouldn't even be able to see it with your eyes!

Now, this little bug has a special trick that it does. It lays eggs on the leaves of oak trees, and when those eggs hatch, they make these cool little bumps called galls on the leaves.

These galls are kind of like houses for the baby bugs. They eat and grow inside the gall until they're big enough to leave and go live their bug lives.

But here's where things get really cool. You know how leaves are usually green, right? Well, when these galls start growing on the leaves, they turn into these really bright red colors. It's almost like the oak tree is wearing a little party hat!

So that's basically what a neuroterus anthracinus is - a tiny bug that makes these neat little galls on oak tree leaves. And those galls turn bright red and make the tree look like it's ready to celebrate!