Virginia Creeper Gall Created by Gall Midge Larvae - Dasineura parthenocissi - Macro HD

Описание: I found this large gall on a virginia creeper leaf behind my house. Insect galls are so interesting, and can be created by certain species of wasps, midges, flies, mites, aphids, scale insects, psyllids, and weevils. Basically - the insect introduces a chemical to the plant, saying “hey plant - I need you to build a special nutritious and safe home for me and my friends to live in” and the plant responds by producing abnormal cells and forming the gall.
This particular gall was formed by the larvae of the gall midge species “Dasineura parthenocissi”. In this particular case, the growth of the gall is stimulated by the larvae feeding on the plant tissue.

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