# Coyote Brush Bud Gall Midge (*Rhopalomyia californica*) The Coyote Brush Bud Gall Midge is a tiny insect that makes special galls on coyote brush plants. These galls are like little homes for the midge's larvae, helping them grow safely. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Coyote Brush Bud Gall Midge](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Coyote_Brush_Bud_Gall_Midge_%28Rhopalomyia_californica%29_%2810879639084%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Franco Folini from San Francisco, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coyote_Brush_Bud_Gall_Midge_%28Rhopalomyia_californica%29_%2810879639084%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Coyote Brush Bud Gall Midge is a tiny, delicate fly, typically 1-3mm long, with a slender, dark body and clear, membranous wings. It has long antennae and a somewhat humped back, making it appear like a very small mosquito without a proboscis. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Diptera - **Family:** Cecidomyiidae - **Genus:** Rhopalomyia ## Interesting facts - Adult midges are so small, they can easily fly through tiny gaps in window screens! - Each tiny gall on a coyote brush plant can contain several midge larvae living together! - Its larvae are completely legless and look like tiny white or orange grubs inside the gall. - The galls it creates are often mistaken for berries or unusual fuzzy plant growths! ## Special abilities - **Gall Architect:** Coyote Brush Bud Gall Midge can make the plant grow a cozy home because it lays eggs inside buds, causing a protective gall to form. - **Plant Programmer:** Coyote Brush Bud Gall Midge has special chemicals that tell the plant to form a safe, food-filled gall around its developing young. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 2-5 mm - **Size:** 1-3 mm - **Lifespan:** 5-10 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults rarely feed; larvae eat the juicy plant tissue inside their protective galls. - **Age differences:** Larvae feed on plant tissue inside galls; adults may sip nectar or not feed at all. - **Primary Foods:** Baccharis pilularis plant tissue, nectar - **Foraging Method:** Null ## Ecological connections - **Parasitizes:** [Coyote Brush](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote-brush) (*Baccharis pilularis*) — Larvae cause galls to form on coyote brush for food and shelter. - **Eaten by:** Coyote Brush Gall Wasp (*Torymus baccharidis*) — Parasitic wasp larvae develop inside midge galls, consuming the midge larvae. - **Eaten by:** [Song Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/song-sparrow) (*Melospiza melodia*) — Song sparrows and other birds often peck open galls to eat the larvae. ## 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. - [Symbiotic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/symbiotic): Describes a relationship between two different species where they live in close association, often benefiting one or both. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [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 These insects are not harmful, but it's best to look at them without touching. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Coyote Brush Bud 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 Coyote Brush Bud Gall Midge's wingspan? 2-5 mm ### How big is Coyote Brush Bud Gall Midge? 1-3 mm ### How long does Coyote Brush Bud Gall Midge live? 5-10 days ### What does Coyote Brush Bud Gall Midge eat? Adults rarely feed; larvae eat the juicy plant tissue inside their protective galls. ### Where is Coyote Brush Bud Gall Midge usually found? Coastal areas ### How does Coyote Brush Bud Gall Midge hunt? Null ### How many legs does Coyote Brush Bud Gall Midge have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Conejo Valley Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/conejo-valley-botanical-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Santa Barbara Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/santa-barbara-botanic-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Milagra Ridge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/milagra-ridge) — California, US · Park [View all places to see Coyote Brush Bud Gall Midge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/coyote-brush-bud-gall-midge) ## 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*) --- Source: [Coyote Brush Bud Gall Midge: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote-brush-bud-gall-midge)