Phragmites-associate
Guides
Lipara lucens
Cigar Gall
Lipara lucens is a gall-forming frit fly (Diptera: Chloropidae) that induces characteristic cigar-shaped galls on common reed (Phragmites australis). The species is monophagous, completing its entire larval development within reed stems. Males produce species-specific acoustic signals through wing vibration and abdominal movement to locate females, who respond with answering vibrations. This substrate-borne communication reduces mate-searching time by allowing males to rapidly assess reed stems for receptive females.