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larose forest photos | all galleries >> INSECTS (INSECTA) (28 Galleries) >> Insect Galls > Galls on Ninebark made by Contarinia sp.
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27-JUN-2013 Christine Hanrahan

Galls on Ninebark made by Contarinia sp.

These galls are on the native shrub, Ninebark. Thanks to John Plakidas from Bug Guide, I now know that they are made by a gall midge (Cecidomyiidae) in the Genus Contarinia, but the species is, apparently, as yet unknown. John Plakidas said that "The galls occur in mid-May here and the orange larvae drop to the soil, spin a cocoon, where they remain dormant until the next spring, one generation a year. So this species lives about 11 months out of a year as a larva. How amazing is that! These galls are so rare they are not in Gagne's red book, Gall midges of North America."

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Ika Zinka Eferl08-Jan-2014 22:00
Very beautiful!V!
Karen Stuebing08-Jan-2014 21:48
I have to say the gall is almost pretty. Great colors in this close up. V.
J. Scott Coile08-Jan-2014 21:02
It is a lovely plant. I'll need to add that Midge to my potential pests list.
godro08-Jan-2014 20:14
Interesting image, well done!
Graeme08-Jan-2014 19:28
I love the colours of these pretty flowers and galls, Christine.BV
Marcia Colelli08-Jan-2014 18:36
Lovely details and colors . Great information V
Helen Betts08-Jan-2014 18:30
Beautiful detail and vivid color, and some very interesting information as well. V.
Tom LeRoy08-Jan-2014 18:18
Amazing life cycle and so are these rare galls. Great catch and info. V
LynnH08-Jan-2014 18:05
How interesting!!
joseantonio08-Jan-2014 17:23
Interesting image and, as always, information.V.
globalgadabout08-Jan-2014 16:32
intriguing...the galls seem to mimic the colours of the host plant..
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