Gall-inducer
Guides
Phacopteronidae
jumping plant-lice
Phacopteronidae is a family of psyllids (jumping plant-lice) within the superfamily Psylloidea. The family contains at least 31 Afrotropical species, primarily in the genus Pseudophacopteron, with additional species in the genus Phacopteron reported from southern India. Most species are associated with host plants in the order Sapindales, particularly Burseraceae and Rutaceae. Some species are gall-inducers, while others are free-living phloem feeders. The family has been documented as containing pests of cultivated plants, including species damaging to Dacryodes edulis in Cameroon.
Phanacis
Phanacis is a genus of cynipid gall wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) in the tribe Aylacini. The genus includes species that induce galls on host plants, with Phanacis taraxaci documented as forming leaf galls on common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). These galls function as physiological sinks that actively redirect carbon and mineral nutrients from host tissues.
Rabdophaga rosacea
rose rosette gall midge, rose rosette midge
Rabdophaga rosacea is a gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae that induces distinctive rosette galls on native roses (Rosa spp.). The species was first described by Ephraim Porter Felt in 1908 from specimens collected in Manitoba, Canada. The galls form on terminal buds, creating tightly packed leafy rosettes with a central cavity that houses the developing midge larvae. The genus name derives from Greek roots meaning 'rod-eater', while the specific epithet refers to its rose hosts. A 2014 taxonomic proposal suggested transferring this species to the broadly defined genus Dasineura, though both genera remain within the tribe Dasineurini.
Rhopalomyia
Rhopalomyia is a large genus of gall midges (Cecidomyiidae) comprising at least 220–267 described species with cosmopolitan distribution. Established by Ewald Heinrich Rübsaamen in 1892, most species induce highly specific galls on Asteraceae, though some species have expanded to Fabaceae, Apocynaceae, Ericaceae, and Myrtaceae. Galls occur on diverse plant organs including buds, leaves, stems, rhizomes, and flower heads. The genus exhibits complex host associations and gall polymorphism, with some species serving as biological control agents.
Rhopalomyia anthophila
Downy Flower Gall Midge
Rhopalomyia anthophila is a gall midge species in the family Cecidomyiidae that induces distinctive galls on the capitulum (flower head) of Solidago altissima (tall goldenrod). The species is distributed across much of North America. The gall's modified flower structure provides a protected chamber for larval development.
Rhopalomyia chrysothamni
chrysanthemum gall midge
A gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae that induces small, conical-tubular stem galls on rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa, formerly Chrysothamnus nauseosus). Research demonstrates that female attack rates and gall development are strongly influenced by host plant water and nutrient availability, with a documented trade-off between gall quantity and quality.
Rhopalomyia fusiformae
Goldentop Sessile Gall Midge
Rhopalomyia fusiformae is a gall midge species in the family Cecidomyiidae, first described by Felt in 1907. It is commonly known as the Goldentop Sessile Gall Midge. The species is known to induce galls on host plants and has been documented in the northeastern United States.
Rhopalomyia gutierreziae
Gutierrezia gall midge
Rhopalomyia gutierreziae is a gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae that induces galls on plants in the genus Gutierrezia. The species was described by Cockerell in 1901. It is part of a diverse genus of gall midges, many of which are specialized to particular host plants. The specific epithet reflects its association with Gutierrezia host plants.
Rhopalomyia lobata
Rhopalomyia lobata is a gall midge (family Cecidomyiidae) that induces large, multi-chambered galls on the stems and buds of Euthamia graminifolia (grass-leaved goldenrod). The species has a broad North American distribution spanning from Florida to Oregon and northward across Canada. Adult emergence occurs during late June to mid-July, after which the galls desiccate and persist on host plants for several weeks.
Schizomyia racemicola
Goldenrod Bunch Gall Midge
Schizomyia racemicola is a gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae that induces characteristic bunch galls on goldenrods (Solidago species). First described by Carl Robert Osten-Sacken in 1862, this species is found in eastern North America. The galls it produces cause dense clusters of stunted leaves at the stem tips, creating a broom-like or "bunch" appearance. The species is relatively well-documented due to the conspicuous nature of its galls on a common host plant.
Tanaostigmodes
Tanaostigmodes is a genus of chalcid wasps in the family Tanaostigmatidae, established by Ashmead in 1896. Species in this genus exhibit diverse host associations with Fabaceae, including fruit-feeding and gall-inducing behaviors. Some species have reached pest status on cultivated legumes, while others induce distinct gall morphotypes on native plants. The genus is distributed across multiple continents including Asia and the Americas.
Taxodiomyia
cypress gall midges
Taxodiomyia is a genus of gall midges in the family Cecidomyiidae that induce galls on cypress trees (Taxodium spp.). The genus contains at least three described species, all specialized to form distinctive twig or leaf galls on their coniferous hosts. These tiny flies are rarely observed directly, with their presence most commonly detected through the abnormal plant growths they induce.
Walshomyia
Walshomyia is a genus of gall midges (family Cecidomyiidae) established by Felt in 1908. The genus comprises four described species, all of which induce galls on coniferous host plants. Members of this genus are associated with Cupressaceae, including junipers and cypresses. The genus is well-represented in citizen science observations, with over 3,000 records documented.