Gall-midges
Guides
Asynaptini
Asynaptini is a tribe of gall midges in the family Cecidomyiidae, subfamily Porricondylinae. Members are small, delicate flies whose larvae develop in association with plants, though specific host relationships remain poorly documented for most taxa. The tribe is distinguished by morphological features of the adult antennae and genitalia. It is one of several tribes within the non-galling lineage Porricondylinae, which diverged from the gall-forming Cecidomyiinae.
Cecidomyiidi
gall midges, gall gnats
Cecidomyiidi is a supertribe of small flies within the subfamily Cecidomyiinae. Members are commonly known as gall midges or gall gnats. While many species induce plant galls, others exhibit diverse ecological roles including fungivory, parasitoidism, predation, and specialized mutualisms with plants. The supertribe includes species with unusual reproductive strategies such as brood site pollination, where larvae develop within floral structures.
Cecidomyiinae
gall midges, gall gnats
Cecidomyiinae is the largest subfamily in Cecidomyiidae, comprising over 600 genera and more than 5,000 described species. The subfamily exhibits remarkable ecological diversity: approximately 75% of species are herbivorous, many inducing galls on plants, while others are fungivores, predators, or parasitoids. Gall-inducing species attack a wide diversity of host plants worldwide and represent the most ecologically diverse gall-inducing group of organisms. Members can be distinguished from other Cecidomyiidae by characters of the male genitalia, antennal segment number, and larval abdominal bristles.
Conarete
Conarete is a genus of non-biting midges in the family Cecidomyiidae, established by Arthur Earl Pritchard in 1951. The genus comprises 13 described species distributed across Asia and North America. As members of the subfamily Lestremiinae, these midges are part of a diverse group of gall midges and relatives. The genus includes species originally described under other genera, with several transferred from related taxa.
Dithrycini
Dithrycini is a tribe of fruit flies within the subfamily Tephritinae of Tephritidae. Members are medium-sized flies approximately 4–5 mm in length. The tribe contains at least 11 genera including Dithryca (the type genus), Eurosta, Aciurina, and Platensina. Some species are associated with gall formation on host plants.
Heteropezini
Heteropezini is a tribe of gall midges within the subfamily Porricondylinae (Cecidomyiidae). These small flies are characterized by reduced wing venation and are distinguished from related tribes by antennal and genital morphology. The tribe includes the genus Heteropeza and related taxa. Published records of this tribe are sparse, with limited observational data available.
Leptosyna
Leptosyna is a genus of gall midges in the family Cecidomyiidae, established by Kieffer in 1894. It belongs to the subfamily Porricondylinae and tribe Heteropezini. Members of this genus are small, delicate flies with reduced wing venation characteristic of the family. The genus is poorly documented in modern literature, with limited species-level information available.
Lestodiplosini
Lestodiplosini is a tribe of predatory gall midges within the family Cecidomyiidae. Members of this tribe are distinguished by their predatory lifestyle, feeding on other small arthropods rather than inducing plant galls. The tribe contains the genus Lestodiplosis and related taxa. These midges are part of the subfamily Cecidomyiinae, which includes both gall-forming and predatory lineages. Lestodiplosini species have been documented in multiple regions, with iNaturalist observations indicating a broad but patchy distribution.
Lestremia
Lestremia is a genus of non-biting midges in the family Cecidomyiidae, established by French entomologist Pierre-Justin-Marie Macquart in 1826. The genus contains 18 described species distributed across multiple continents including Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Species in this genus are placed in the subfamily Lestremiinae and tribe Lestremiini. The genus includes both extant species and fossil species known from Eocene amber.
Mayetiola
Mayetiola is a genus of gall midges in the family Cecidomyiidae. The genus includes approximately 15 described species, with Mayetiola destructor (the Hessian fly) being the most economically significant. Most species in this genus are associated with cereal crops and grasses. Unlike many other cecidomyiids, M. destructor does not form galls. The genus exhibits a distinctive developmental feature: chromosome elimination during early embryogenesis, where germ-line nuclei retain the full chromosome complement while somatic nuclei eliminate approximately 32 chromosomes.
Micromyini
wood midges
Micromyini is a tribe of small, delicate flies commonly known as wood midges, classified within the family Cecidomyiidae. The tribe comprises approximately 9 genera and at least 30 described species. These insects are part of the diverse gall midge group, though their specific biology remains poorly documented compared to other cecidomyiid tribes.
Monardia
wood midges
Monardia is a genus of wood midges in the family Cecidomyiidae, first described by Kieffer in 1895. The genus contains approximately 40–53 described species organized into three subgenera. These small flies are part of the diverse gall midge family, though specific biological details for most species remain poorly documented. The genus has been recorded from northern European countries including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Piceacecis
Piceacecis is a genus of gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) described by Gagné in 2014. The genus is associated with spruce trees (genus Picea), as indicated by its etymology. As a recently described genus within the diverse gall midge family, its species are likely specialized in inducing galls on spruce foliage or shoots. The genus has been recorded from Denmark.
Porricondylini
Porricondylini is a tribe of gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) within the subfamily Porricondylinae. The group has undergone recent taxonomic revision in Sweden, resulting in the description of 19 new species across 10 genera, including one new genus (Oelandyla). The tribe comprises small, delicate flies whose taxonomy relies heavily on detailed morphological study of male genitalia and other structures under transmitted-light microscopy.
Sciaroidea
Fungus Gnats and Gall Midges
Sciaroidea is a superfamily of nematoceran flies in the infraorder Bibionomorpha, comprising approximately 16 families and over 15,000 described species. The group includes fungus gnats, gall midges, and related families, with larvae predominantly associated with fungi, dead wood, and soil. Fennoscandia represents a major biodiversity hotspot for this group, harboring roughly 1,000 species—about 83% of Europe's total. Despite substantial DNA barcoding efforts yielding over 56,000 barcode index numbers (BINs), only 5% currently have scientific names assigned, indicating vast undescribed diversity.
Winnertzia
Winnertzia is a genus of mycophagous gall midges in the family Cecidomyiidae, subfamily Porricondylinae. The genus is exceptionally speciose, with 136 extant species currently recognized following recent taxonomic revisions. Species are documented from the Palearctic, Neotropical, and Australasian regions. Larvae develop in association with fungal substrates.
Winnertziinae
Winnertziinae is a subfamily of gall midges and wood midges in the family Cecidomyiidae (Diptera). The subfamily contains three recognized tribes: Diallactiini, Heteropezini, and Winnertziini, plus several genera of uncertain placement. The genus Winnertzia is exceptionally speciose, with 136 extant species documented across Sweden, Peru, and Tasmania. Members are predominantly mycophagous, feeding on fungal substrates.