Question
I live in the northern suburbs of Chicago, IL (Glenview) in a Manufactured Home Community, where the ground has the consistancy of black clay (it's heavy and clumpy?).  Two years ago, I planted a young red maple tree (it's about four years old now) in my back yard.  Just this past week, I noticed little red shiny "clusters" on most of the leaves. They are about this size "O". They look like spores of some type. Do have any idea what they could be? How do I get rid of them?  ANy help would be greatly appreciated.


Thank you,
~ Christy  

Answer
These could be a fungi causing a leaf spot or an insect gall. Before a treatment can be recommended we must determine if it is an insect or a disease. Insects are treated using an insecticide where diseases are treated using a fungicide. Here are two web links with pictures of leaf spots and leaf galls. Neither the galls insects or the leaf spots cause any real health problems with the tree beyond making the tree look bad--at the very worst the leaves may drop off a little earlier than normal.
Leaf spots
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3044.html


Leaf galls
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2004.html