Upper Midwest Stem Insect Survey

Local feeder (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in Oxalis

Record Details

Record no.:	0354
Feeding guild:	Local feeder in stem
Taxonomy:	Diptera: Cecidomyiidae
Stages observed:	trace, larva
Hosts in Oxalis:	O. stricta (yellow wood sorrel)

I found three yellow-orange larvae of this cecidomyiid in a lower stem of the host in mid-July, 2023.

Featured Images

the stem is gray-green in color overall with reddish pithy tissue in the interior on which the larva is resting with its body curled — Image #: 354-01 Lower stem of Oxalis, dissected, showing larva inside (larger version)

the reddish tissue in the interior has a slight sinus or groove in it in which the larva is positioned — Image #: 354-02 Larva in stem.

pale yellowish-orange, elongate immature stage with a segmented body and two small black dots on the anterior end — Image #: 354-03 Larva.

the larvae are shown on a gray background; both have the set of dark dots on the anterior end, as well as a darker region on the lower half of their bodies thaat appears to be orange gut contents — Image #: 354-05 Two larvae.

Specimen Data for Images

Coll. 07/17/23, photos same day (01-05).

Page created: February 5, 2026. Last update: none