Local feeder (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in stems of Monarda
| Record no.: | 0336 |
|---|---|
| Feeding guild: | Local feeder in stem |
| Taxonomy: | Diptera: Cecidomyiidae: Neolasioptera monardae |
| Stages observed: | trace, larva |
| Hosts in Monarda: | M. fistulosa (bee balm, wild bergamot) |
In December 2016, in a "postage stamp" remnant prairie, I located several slender, spindle-shaped stem galls made by this cecidomyiid and photographed the bright orange larva inside one of them. The larva was ensconced within a narrow, cylindrical, blackened chamber in the pith in the center of the gall. I also located and photographed similar galls in July 2017 and March 2024. The galls seem to be most readily encountered on thin lateral stems branching off the main stem of the host. Identification based on the species account in Gagné (1989).
- Gagné, R.J. 1989. The plant-feeding gall midges of North America. Cornell University Press: Ithaca, New York.[return to in-text citation]
Page created: February 13, 2026. Last update: none