Rhopalomyia anthophila explained

Rhopalomyia anthophila the Downy Flower Gall Midgeis a species of gall midges, insects in the family Cecidomyiidae. It induces galls on the host Solidago altissima across much of North America.

Galls and Biology

The gall that is a modified capitulum, which is cylindrical and measures NaN2NaN2 in length and NaN2NaN2 in width. It is usually slightly wider bassaly than at its tip and is covered by short, white hairs that give it a fuzzy appearance. The gall is green, situated among normal capitula, accompanied by tiny leaves and/or ray florets at its base. The gall contains a single chamber with an inner, conical chamber that contains a single larva facing downwards. Larvae turn to face upwards before pupation. Galls become apparent in mid-August, and pupation takes place in late August to mid-September.^{[1] [2]}

External links

• Naturespot - cecidomyiidae
• INaturalist - Gall Project

Gall-Inducing Insects: From Anatomy to Biodiversity ^[3]
A Catalog of the Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) of the World ^[4]

Notes and References

1. Dorchin . Netta . McEvoy . Miles V. . Dowling . Todd A. . Abrahamson . Warren G. . Moore . Joseph G. . Revision of the goldenrod-galling Rhopalomyia species (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in North America . . 2152 . 2152 . 1–35 . July 2009. 10.11646/zootaxa.2152.1.1 . 85821972 .
2. Felt. Ephraim Porter. Key to American Insect Galls. New York State Museum Bulletin. 1917. 200. 95–97.
3. Book: Fernandes. G. W.. Carneiro. M. A. A.. Isaias. R. M. S.. Gall-Inducing Insects: From Anatomy to Biodiversity. 369–395. March 2012. March 28, 2023.
4. Web site: 2018-03-27 . Gagné . Raymond J. . Jaschhof . Mathias . 2017 . A Catalog of the Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) of the World, Fourth Edition . Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture .