Caryomyia tuberidolium (Hickory Midge Galls )

Caryomyia tuberidolium

Gagne Description ²

Common, on Eucarya hickories; often in groups, usually on lower, rarely on upper leaf surface, between veins; 3.2-4.0 mm in height, spheroidal, slightly longer than wide, base broadly rounded to truncate in profile, apex with small central nipple surrounded by extensive areola that with pressure easily separates from gall; surface covered with large bumps and resin glands, the sticky exudate in young galls sometimes extruded in hairlike strands, hairless, yellow, tan, or brown, areola paler than surrounding surface; base with wide, deep, circular indentation; wall firm brittle, almost uniformly thin, larval chamber glabrous, with longitudinal ridges. For notes on galls of related species, see under C. cilidolium.

Note ²

Coded as hairy because it often appears so due to the distribution of sticky exudate, though no true hairs are present.

Gagne Biology Note ²

In central Maryland, tiny to full-size galls were first noticed on May 24, the galls all with first instars. Second instars were present in some galls by June 25, but most galls still contained first instars through July 8. Third instars began appearing by mid-July and second instars could still be found through Aug. 19. Second and third instars are active when disturbed.

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iNat Map

Carya	floridana, glabra, laciniosa, myristiciformis, ovata, pallida, texana, tomentosa
Texture	areola, bumpy, hairless, hairy, sticky
Alignment	erect
Detachable	yes
Location	between veins, lower leaf, upper leaf
Walls	thin

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