Name: Big Bill Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a) If you need to relax, grow plants!!
I have never seen that before.
I wonder if it might be due to some gene instability like you think. I would find it hard to believe it is either insect or disease related. I would just ignore them. It probably not preventable or controllable.
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.