Hickory Sticky Globe Gall Midge (Hickory Midge Galls )

Hickory Sticky Globe Gall Midge

Caryomyia caryae

Gagne Description ²

Common, found on Eucarya hickories; single or clustered, on lower leaf surface, usually between veins but may occur on vein; 2.5-3.5 mm in height, spheroidal, sometimes bulging out to one side at midlength, apex with short umbo, less often gall subcylindrical and constricted near basal third; green or yellow, becoming tan to red or brown, hairless, more or less sticky, variably covered with small resin glands; base with weak to prominent conical pedicel in center of circular indentation, leaf in most specimens slightly exfoliate surrounding base of gall, in subcylindrical form more conspicuously so; wall firm, brittle, of uniform thickness, usually thin, larval chamber shaped as for gall, yellow, brown, or purple, glabrous, with longitudinal ridges. This gall is generally similar to that of C. shmoo, but the gall of the latter is conspicuously narrow at its apical third, while the present gall is more evenly spheroidal.

Gagne Biology Note ²

In central Maryland, soft, whitish-green galls were first noticed on June 9 and contained first instars. On June 15, galls were nearing full size and contained first instars. By June 17, some galls were hard and contained sec- ond instars, as well as young hymenopterous parasitoids. By June 22 and through July 16, all galls were at full size and hard. On August 3, galls contained large second instars. By August 31, more than 2/3 of the galls contained third instars. The full-grown larva is opaque white and practically fills the larval chamber. The exit tunnel is made to one side of the gall.

Sources and Credits

More Info

iNat Map

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

‹ › ×