Gall Identification

I've recently started researching for some gall identification sites and wanted to post some links here.

Oak Galls

California Oak Galls
This is one of the best site that I have come across so far.
http://joycegross.com/galls_ca_oak.php

Wasp Galls on California Oaks
http://www.californiaoaks.org/ExtAssets/WaspGalls_RonRussoPoster.pdf

A Field Guide to Insects and Diseases of California Oaks
http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/documents/psw_gtr197/psw_gtr197.pdf
Not only galls, but some other insects too.


Willow Galls

Insects on Willows
http://wanda.uef.fi/biologia/nyman/IOWgallinducers.htm


Creosote

Though there are roughly 15 species of midges and/or flies that create galls on Creosote I can only find online identifiaction for one,
Creosote Gall Midges (Asphondylia auripila)
http://www.birdandhike.com/Wildlife/Invert/Ph_Arthropoda/SubP_Hexapoda/Cl_Insecta/Diptera/Midge/Cecidomyiidae/Asphon_aur/_Asp_aur.htm


Manzanita

BugGuide
Manzanita Leaf Gall Aphid
http://bugguide.net/node/view/214155


Ceanothus

University of California
Ceanothus stem gall moth
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/PLANTS/INVERT/ceanothusgallmth.html
CalPhotos
Ceanothus Bud Gall Midge
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=1111+1111+2222+2263


Coyote Brush

BugGuide - Coyote Brus Stem Gall moth
http://bugguide.net/node/view/168328/bgimage
BugGuide - Coyote Brush Bud Gall Midge
http://bugguide.net/node/view/225834/bgimage


Cottonwood

Poplar Petiolegall Aphid
BugGuide
http://bugguide.net/node/view/346741/bgimage
Video
http://naturebytesvideo.com/bytes_C/cottonwood_gall.html


Multiple Plant Hosts

Plant Gall Identification
http://adventuresofawildlife.com/category/plant-gall-identification/
Click on the link to the "New Easy Reference System fo Plant Gall Identification" post for directions if needed.

A photographic guide by Michael Mitchell & Rod M Yeager, MD
Not many species, but some are on plants other than oaks.
http://www.montereywildflowers.com/Galls.php

Gall Making Insects and Mites
http://webdoc.agsci.colostate.edu/bspm/Gall%20Making%20Insects%20and%20Mites%20-%20Montana.pdf


Books

Ron Russo's Field Guide to Plant Galls of California and other Western States .

If you have any other sites please share them with me.

Posted on January 14, 2014 06:18 PM by finatic finatic

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Gall Wasps (Family Cynipidae)

Observer

finatic

Date

January 12, 2014 09:31 AM PST

Description

Riverside County, California, US

Oak was the host plant. Very small gall, diameter about the size of a dime, at most.

Photos / Sounds

What

California Gall Wasp (Andricus quercuscalifornicus)

Observer

finatic

Date

January 12, 2014 09:43 AM PST

Description

Riverside County, California, US

Oak was the host plant. Large gall, approaching the size of a baseball.

Photos / Sounds

What

Large Creosote Gall Midge (Asphondylia auripila)

Observer

finatic

Date

February 17, 2014 01:38 PM PST

Description

San Diego County, California, US

Photos / Sounds

What

Large Creosote Gall Midge (Asphondylia auripila)

Observer

finatic

Date

February 17, 2014 10:09 AM PST

Description

San Diego County, California, US

Photos / Sounds

What

Ceanothus Bud Gall Midge (Asphondylia ceanothi)

Observer

finatic

Date

March 8, 2014 10:45 AM PST

Description

San Diego County, California, US

Host plant Chapparal Whitethorn

Comments

If you would like to follow a photo site, where the photographer takes photos of galls, this is a good one. He once gave a presentation at CCBER on galls.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/treebeard/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/treebeard/sets/72157629373118239/

Posted by lynnwatson about 10 years ago

Thanks. A good printed reference is Tracks & Sign of Insects and Other Invertebrates: A Guide to North American Species by Charley Eiseman and Noah Charney

Posted by lfelliott about 10 years ago

Now that is funny BJ. Like minds? "Field Guide to Plant Galls of California and other Western States".....came in the mail yesterday! Awesome. Creosote Stem Gall Midge (Asphondylia auripita) is the most obvious gall in my backyard of the deserts but I bet you were tracking down the most obvious in your area of Oaks. Never stop learning!

Posted by swbirder about 10 years ago

Lee, thanks for the book. I normally prefer books in hand over the web so I'll add that one to me needed list.

Bob, yes, Oaks and Willows are the most common here. But of course I want to learn about all the ones that I come across. How is that book? I'm a visual learner so are there plenty of photos?
I really want to find a Spined Turban Gall Wasp in the multi-pointed form. That is neat looking.
http://joycegross.com/images.php?search=2&taxon=Antron+douglasii&ordr=
Next time I'm out your way you'll have to find me one of your midges.

Posted by finatic about 10 years ago

I really like the book. Lots of pictures and seems to have good pictures of most of the species. Have not had time to go through all of it because I bought five new books at the same time..... :-0

All UofC press. Mushrooms, amphibians and reptiles, bees, spiders.

Did check out the Creosote Gall Midges though and there are about 16 of them! Creosote Stem Gall Midge (Asphondylia auripila) is highly visible and you will have no trouble finding it flying down the freeway! Am really looking forward to finding Creosote Antler Gall Midge (A. digitata) and could only find two photos for it on-line but the photo in the book really shows it well. Looks like a miniature Moose antler!

Amazing world we live in!

Posted by swbirder about 10 years ago

Cool. I have quite a few UofC Press books and they really vary in quality for a novice. I'm just above the coloring book stage in my knowledge of insects so photos are quite helpful.
The Creosote Antler Gall Midge sounds awesome. Just another reason to head out to the desert.
I agree, amazing world we live in.

Posted by finatic about 10 years ago

Thanks so much for putting this list together!

By the way, the following link gives a "page not found" error:
Wasp Galls on California Oaks
http://www.californiaoaks.org/ExtAssets/WaspGalls_RonRussoPoster.pdf

Posted by truthseqr over 7 years ago

Russo does not cover much of the Ariz-NMex desert galls.

According to Bugguide, the on-line pamphlet, "Cynipid galls of the Southwest" by Lewis Hart Weld is the best source of info about SW galls, especially desert galls. It was self-published in 1960 and has black-and-white photos.

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924018354765&view=1up&seq=35

Posted by nancyasquith about 4 years ago

@nancyasquith, greatlink. Much thanks.

Posted by finatic almost 4 years ago

This is a very helpful list!

Posted by beartracker over 3 years ago

I have been working on a list of California galls by host plant that by now has maybe 200 entries. It is in my California Plants with Mystery Galls project, but here's a direct link: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/california-plants-with-mystery-galls/journal/39523-california-galls-a-host-plant-list-with-links.

Also, for those who haven't yet heard, Russo will have an updated guide to Western galls published in late March 2021. See https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/galls-of-california/journal/41615-new-russo-field-guide-being-issued-in-march

Posted by nancyasquith over 3 years ago

Thanks so much for these resources. I love learning about galls! They are fascinating and so complex! I have pre-ordered the Russo guide. Can't wait!

Posted by beartracker over 3 years ago

Interested in thoughts on this observation.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/60643930

Is it a gall? Can find no mention of galls occurring on Fouquieria.

Lat week I ran across another observation, posted by someone else, from the Mexican border west of the Yuha Desert in Imperial County.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/60359836

Posted by swbirder over 3 years ago

Add a Comment

Sign In or Sign Up to add comments