Gall-midge
Guides
Resseliella liriodendri
tulip tree leaf spot gall midge
Resseliella liriodendri is a gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae that induces leaf spot galls on tulip trees (Liriodendron). The species was described by Osten Sacken in 1862. Unlike its congener Resseliella maxima, which is a destructive pest of soybean, this species is associated with a woody host plant and has not been reported as an agricultural pest.
Resseliella tulipiferae
Resseliella tulipiferae is a gall midge species in the family Cecidomyiidae, first described by Osten Sacken in 1862. It belongs to the genus Resseliella, which includes several species associated with woody plants. The species epithet "tulipiferae" indicates an association with tulip trees (Liriodendron tulipifera). Unlike the recently described congener Resseliella maxima, which is a significant agricultural pest of soybean, R. tulipiferae appears to be associated with native forest trees rather than cultivated crops.
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 audibertiae
Sage Leaf Gall Midge, White Sage Leaf Gall Midge
Rhopalomyia audibertiae is a gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae that induces distinctive leaf galls on white sage (Salvia apiana). The species was described by Felt in 1907 and is commonly known as the sage leaf gall midge or white sage leaf gall midge. It has been documented in over 1,500 observations on iNaturalist, indicating it is relatively well-recorded where its host plant occurs. The midge is part of a genus containing numerous species that specialize on sagebrush and related plants in the genus Artemisia and Salvia.
Rhopalomyia baccharis
coyote brush twisted stem gall midge, Baccharis Stem Gall Midge
Rhopalomyia baccharis is a gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae that induces twisted stem galls on Baccharis species, particularly coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis). The species was described by Felt in 1908 and is associated with host plants in the Asteraceae family. Like other Cecidomyiidae, it has a complete metamorphosis life cycle with distinct larval, pupal, and adult stages.
Rhopalomyia californica
Coyote Brush Bud Gall Midge
Rhopalomyia californica is a gall-forming midge in the family Cecidomyiidae, commonly known as the coyote brush bud gall midge. The species induces galls on its host plant and has been studied in both natural and urban environments. Research indicates its distribution and gall formation success are influenced by plant quality, natural enemies, and interspecific competition.
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 clarkei
Rhopalomyia clarkei is a gall midge species in the family Cecidomyiidae, first described by Felt in 1907. The species induces small, conical, single-chambered galls on two host plants: Solidago altissima and Solidago rugosa. It occurs in north-eastern and north-central North America. Adult females are approximately 2 mm long with a dull red abdomen and 17 antennal segments.
Rhopalomyia ericameriae
Rosette Bud Gall Midge
Rhopalomyia ericameriae is a gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae, commonly known as the Rosette Bud Gall Midge. The species induces distinctive gall formations on host plants. As a member of the genus Rhopalomyia, it belongs to one of the most diverse genera of gall midges, with many species specialized on Asteraceae hosts.
Rhopalomyia erigerontis
Rhopalomyia erigerontis is a gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae. It is known to induce galls on Erigeron (fleabane) species. The species was described by Felt in 1916. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with Asteraceae host plants.
Rhopalomyia floccosa
Sagebrush Woolly Stem Gall Midge
Rhopalomyia floccosa is a gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae that induces distinctive woolly stem galls on California sagebrush (Artemisia californica). The species produces white, woolly, monothalamous bud galls measuring approximately 5 mm in diameter individually, with coalescing galls reaching 30–40 mm in length. It is a specialist herbivore with a known association limited to this single host plant.
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 glutinosa
A gall midge species in the family Cecidomyiidae described by Felt in 1916. As a member of the genus Rhopalomyia, it likely induces galls on host plants, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented in available sources.
Rhopalomyia grossulariae
Gooseberry Gall Midge
Rhopalomyia grossulariae, commonly known as the gooseberry gall midge, is a gall-inducing fly in the family Cecidomyiidae. The species was described by Felt in 1911 and is associated with gooseberry plants (Ribes spp.). Like other members of its genus, it induces gall formation on host plants. The species has been recorded in parts of Europe, with confirmed presence in Great Britain.
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 hirtipes
Rhopalomyia hirtipes is a gall midge species in the family Cecidomyiidae that induces distinctive galls on Solidago juncea (early goldenrod) in eastern North America. The species forms large, ovoid, multi-chambered stem galls at the base of host plant stems, surrounded by a rosette of long leaves. Adults emerge in early to late September following larval development and pupation within the gall structure.
Rhopalomyia hirtipomum
Rhopalomyia hirtipomum is a gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae. The species was described by Gagné in 1985. It belongs to the subgenus Diarthronomyia within Rhopalomyia. As a member of this genus, it is presumed to induce galls on Asteraceae host plants, though specific host associations for this species have not been documented in the available sources.
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.
Rhopalomyia obovata
Rhopalomyia obovata is a gall midge species in the family Cecidomyiidae, described by Gagné in 1983. The genus Rhopalomyia is one of the most diverse genera of gall midges, with many species inducing characteristic galls on various host plants. As with other members of this genus, R. obovata likely forms galls on specific host plant tissues, though detailed natural history information for this particular species appears limited in the available literature. The species is recognized as valid by GBIF and Catalogue of Life, with 266 observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Rhopalomyia pomum
Sponge Gall Midge
Rhopalomyia pomum, commonly known as the sponge gall midge, is a gall-forming insect in the family Cecidomyiidae. The species induces distinctive leaf galls on Great Basin sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata). It was described by Gagné in 1975 and is recognized as a valid species in current taxonomic databases.
Rhopalomyia solidaginis
Goldenrod Bunch Gall Midge, goldenrod bunch gall
Rhopalomyia solidaginis is a gall midge (Cecidomyiidae) that induces distinctive bunch galls on goldenrod plants. It is bivoltine, producing separate spring and summer gall generations with different morphologies. The species is the second-largest Rhopalomyia on goldenrods and can be identified by male gonopod structure and female ovipositor length. It has been documented across eastern North America.
Rhopalomyia sulcata
Rhopalomyia sulcata is a gall midge species in the family Cecidomyiidae, described by Raymond Gagné in 1995. As a member of the genus Rhopalomyia, this species is associated with inducing galls on host plants, though specific host associations for R. sulcata remain poorly documented. The genus is taxonomically diverse with many species specialized on particular plant genera, especially in the Asteraceae.
Rhopalomyia undescribed-species-on-amorpha
An undescribed species of gall midge in the genus Rhopalomyia that forms galls on Amorpha (false indigo), a genus of leguminous shrubs native to North America. As a member of Cecidomyiidae, this species likely exhibits the typical life cycle of gall midges with larval development occurring within plant tissue. The species remains formally undescribed in scientific literature, indicating it has been recognized by specialists but awaits formal taxonomic characterization. Its association with Amorpha suggests host-specificity, a common trait in Rhopalomyia species which often exhibit narrow host plant ranges.
Ribesia
Ribesia is a genus of gall midges (family Cecidomyiidae) established by Gagné in 2016. The genus name derives from its host association with Ribes (currants and gooseberries). As a member of the Cecidomyiidae, species in this genus are likely to induce galls on their host plants, though specific gall morphology and species-level biology require direct observation.
Schizomyia
Schizomyia is a genus of gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) with cosmopolitan distribution. Species in this genus induce various types of galls on diverse host plants, including rosette bud galls, inflorescence galls, and stem galls. The genus belongs to the tribe Asphondyliini and contains at least 51 described species. Some species have significant ecological and economic impacts, including outbreaks that reduce seed production in forest trees and potential use as biological control agents.
Schizomyia impatientis
Jewelweed Gall Midge
Schizomyia impatientis is a gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae. The species induces characteristic galls on jewelweeds (Impatiens species) in eastern North America. It was first described by Carl Robert Osten-Sacken in 1862. The common name Jewelweed Gall Midge reflects its specialized association with these host plants.
Schizomyia macrofila
Fiddleneck Midge Gall
Schizomyia macrofila is a gall midge species in the family Cecidomyiidae, known for inducing galls on fiddleneck plants (Amsinckia spp.). The species was described by Felt in 1907. As a member of the genus Schizomyia, it belongs to a group of gall midges specialized in forming distinct plant growths. The common name "Fiddleneck Midge Gall" reflects its association with this host plant group.
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.
Schizomyia rivinae
Schizomyia rivinae is a gall midge species in the family Cecidomyiidae, described by Felt in 1908. Members of the genus Schizomyia induce galls on host plants, though specific gall morphology and host associations for this species remain poorly documented. The species is known from limited specimen records and iNaturalist observations.
Schizomyia umbellicola
Elderberry Gall Midge
Schizomyia umbellicola is a gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae that induces galls on elderberry (Sambucus species). The species was first described by Osten Sacken in 1878. As a member of the genus Schizomyia, it shares the characteristic biology of forming distinctive plant galls during larval development. The common name 'Elderberry Gall Midge' reflects its specific association with elderberry hosts.
Schizomyia verbesinae
Schizomyia verbesinae is a gall midge species in the family Cecidomyiidae that induces galls on Verbesina species (sunflower family, Asteraceae). As a member of the genus Schizomyia, it is part of a diverse group of gall-forming midges specialized on asteraceous host plants. The species is documented through gall observations and adult collections, primarily in North America where its host plants occur.
Stephomyia
Stephomyia is a genus of gall midges in the family Cecidomyiidae, established by Tavares in 1916. The genus comprises seven described species distributed in the Neotropical region, with six species from South America and one (S. eugeniae) from North America. All species are gall-formers that induce plant galls on Myrtaceae hosts. A cladistic analysis based on morphological characters and host plant data supports the monophyly of the genus.
Stephomyia eugeniae
Stephomyia eugeniae is a Neotropical gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae. The species is known from male, female, and pupa stages and induces galls on Eugenia species (Myrtaceae). Phylogenetic analysis places it in a clade with S. epeugeniae, sister to a group containing S. tetralobae, S. rotundifoliorum, and S. espiralis.
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.
Taxodiomyia cupressi
Cypress Twig Gall Midge, Cypress Flower Gall Midge
Taxodiomyia cupressi is a gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) that induces distinctive twig galls on cypress trees (Taxodium spp.). The species forms spongy, globular galls on new growth that are initially snow-white and turn brown with age. It has been documented in central Illinois and Missouri, with observations on cultivated bald cypress outside its native range. The midge undergoes complete metamorphosis with multiple generations per year, overwintering as larvae within fallen galls.
gall-midgeCecidomyiidaeTaxodiumbald-cypressgall-formerpestDipterainsectphytophagouscomplete-metamorphosismultiple-generationsoverwintering-larvaeornamental-pestriparianwetlandMissouriIllinoiscentral-USAtwig-gallspongy-gallwhite-gallbrown-gallexit-holesynchronized-emergencehost-specificTaxodiomyia-cupressiananassasynonymSchweinitz-1822Osten-Sacken-1878Taxodiomyia cupressiananassa
cypress twig gall midge
A gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae that induces distinctive twig galls on cypress trees. The spongy galls are initially snow-white, turning brown with age, and eventually drop from the tree with leaf fall. Larvae pupate within the galls, with adults emerging later in the season or following spring. The species is considered a pest of ornamental and native cypress plantings.
Taxodiomyia taxodii
cypress leaf gall midge, cypress twig gall midge
A gall midge species in the family Cecidomyiidae that induces distinctive galls on cypress trees. Adults are tiny flies that lay eggs in cypress tissues, with larvae developing inside spongy, globular galls that initially appear snow-white and turn brown with age. The species is closely related to Taxodiomyia cupressiananassa, which produces similar galls on bald cypress.
Thecodiplosis
Thecodiplosis is a genus of gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) comprising approximately six described species. Species in this genus induce galls on pine needles, with documented hosts including Pinus densiflora, P. thunbergii, P. resinosa, and other Pinus species. The genus has become economically significant as an invasive pest in some regions, particularly Thecodiplosis japonensis, which has established populations in China since 2016.
Thecodiplosis brachynteroides
Thecodiplosis brachynteroides is a species of gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae, described by Osten Sacken in 1862. Gall midges in this family are small, delicate flies whose larvae induce gall formation on host plants. The genus Thecodiplosis is associated with conifer hosts, particularly pines.
Vitisiella
Grape Midge Galls
Vitisiella is a genus of gall midges in the family Cecidomyiidae, established by Fedotova & Kovalev in 2003. Species in this genus are associated with grape plants (Vitis spp.), inducing characteristic galls on their hosts. The genus is known from North America, with records from the northeastern United States. The common name 'Grape Midge Galls' reflects their ecological association with cultivated and wild grapes.
Vitisiella brevicauda
Grape Tumid Gallmaker Midge
Vitisiella brevicauda, the Grape Tumid Gallmaker Midge, is a gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae that induces characteristic tumor-like galls on grape (Vitis) leaves and stems. The species was described by Felt in 1908 and is primarily known from eastern North America. It is a minor pest in vineyards, where gall formation can reduce photosynthetic capacity and aesthetic value of grape foliage.
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.
Winnertzia solidaginis
Winnertzia solidaginis is a species of gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae, described by Felt in 1907. It is found in Europe, with confirmed records from Norway and Sweden. The specific epithet "solidaginis" indicates an association with goldenrod (Solidago), though the precise nature of this relationship has not been documented in detail. Like other members of Cecidomyiidae, it is presumed to have a larval stage that develops in association with plant tissue.