Dear Dian,
I feel quite envious of you coming into spring - we are at the end of summer
with just autumn and winter to look forward to! Still autumn is the best
time to find galls so it's an ill wind..... It is notoriously hard to rear
anything from leaf galls - the leaf usually withers or goes mouldy before
anything happens. Some people recommend putting damp sand or soil in a jar
with the specimen on top, some thymol to prevent mould and a lid to stop the
creature escaping. Label well and not on the inside in case a snail has got
in - they love paper! Having said that - many leaf galls are caused by mites
which are tiny and very hard to see. Of course they won't hatch.
Glad to hear you will be living here and joining in. Thanks for the photos -
I'll let you know if there are any identifications.
Janet

you wrote:
I picked the leaf as the wind was still strong after the hailstorm. At the
>moment they are in a small plastic box with a wet paper towel. Any hints
>for keeping them until "something" hatches? Dian
>PS: I am also attaching a couple of website references in case you are
>interested as a group. There are more to come, including Swamp Melaleuca
>galls. D
>