Lacebug
Another insect whose damage is similar to that of thrips is the lacebug. The lacebugs are visible to the naked eye and look like pieces of dandruff; the same open pruning and reliance on beneficial insects is recommended. Weird and often colorful growths are common on some oak trees, particularly Valley Oaks. They can look like tomatoes or brown balls, amongst other shapes, stuck to leaves or twigs.