Needle-gall
Guides
Pinyonia edulicola
Pinyon Spindle Gall Midge, Pinyon Spindlegall Midge
A tiny gall-forming midge in the family Cecidomyiidae that induces spindle-shaped galls on developing pinyon pine needles. Adult emergence occurs in mid-June to mid-July. Heavy infestations cause premature needle drop and substantial defoliation, making it a pest of concern in urban landscapes of Colorado.