# Beech Gall Midge (*Mikiola fagi*)

The Beech Gall Midge is a tiny insect that makes little galls on beech trees. These galls are like cozy homes for the midge's babies, helping them grow safely inside the tree.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Forests

![Beech Gall Midge](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Mikiola_fagi.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Marco Walker, CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mikiola_fagi.JPG)

## Appearance

The Beech Gall Midge is a tiny, slender fly with a brownish body and delicate, clear wings. It has long, segmented antennae and slender legs, making it resemble a miniature mosquito. Its small size, typically a few millimeters, distinguishes it from larger flies.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Diptera
- **Family:** Cecidomyiidae
- **Genus:** Mikiola

## Interesting facts

- Adult Beech Gall Midges are so small, many people might mistake them for specks of dust!
- Baby gall midges spend nearly a year cozy inside their leaf 'bubble' before emerging as adults!
- The special bumps they create, called galls, often turn vibrant red in autumn before falling off!
- These tiny insects can trick a beech tree into growing a unique home just for their babies!

## Special abilities

- **Gall Architect:** Beech Gall Midge can prompt beech trees to grow unique, protective galls, providing a safe nursery for its larvae inside.
- **Plant Engineer:** Beech Gall Midge has specialized chemicals that trick beech trees into forming a cozy, nutrient-rich home for its developing young.

## Measurements & details

- **Wingspan:** 4-8 mm
- **Size:** 2-4 mm
- **Lifespan:** 3-7 days
- **Flight Speed:** 1 km/h
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

Beech Gall Midge larvae feed on the sap and plant tissues of beech trees while hidden inside galls.

- **Age differences:** Adult midges generally do not feed, focusing entirely on reproduction, while larvae consume plant tissues.
- **Primary Foods:** Beech tree sap, Beech leaf cells

## Ecological connections

- **Depends on:** [European Beech](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-beech) (*Fagus sylvatica*) — Provides shelter and food for larvae within induced galls.
- **Parasitizes:** Gall Midge Parasitoid Wasp (*Platygaster demades*) — Lays eggs inside gall midge larvae, using them as living food.
- **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Feeds on adult midges and sometimes extracts larvae from galls.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

It's best to look at trees from a distance and not touch them to keep the insects safe.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Beech Gall Midge?

Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What is Beech Gall Midge's wingspan?

4-8 mm

### How big is Beech Gall Midge?

2-4 mm

### How long does Beech Gall Midge live?

3-7 days

### How fast can Beech Gall Midge fly?

1 km/h

### What does Beech Gall Midge eat?

Beech Gall Midge larvae feed on the sap and plant tissues of beech trees while hidden inside galls.

### Where is Beech Gall Midge usually found?

Forests

### How many legs does Beech Gall Midge have?

6

## Where to spot

- [Skandinavisk Dyrepark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/skandinavisk-dyrepark) — Central Denmark Region, DK · Zoo

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Beech Gall Midge: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/beech-gall-midge)