# Hackberry Aciculate Gall Midge (*celticecis aciculata*) The Hackberry Aciculate Gall Midge is a tiny insect that loves to live on hackberry trees! They create little bumps called galls on the leaves where they make their homes. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Habitat:** Hackberry trees in forests and urban areas. - **Also known as:** Gall Midge, Hackberry Gall Midge, Hackberry Midge ![Hackberry Aciculate Gall Midge](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hackberry_Aciculate_Gall.jpg&width=800) Photo: Victor Engel, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hackberry_Aciculate_Gall.jpg) ## Appearance The Hackberry Aciculate Gall Midge is a tiny, mosquito-like fly, typically brown or gray. It has translucent wings and a delicate body, making it hard to spot without careful observation, unlike the spiky galls it creates. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Diptera - **Family:** Cecidomyiidae - **Genus:** Celticecis ## Interesting facts - Each midge species often creates its own unique gall shape and size! - Imagine a tiny fly that can tell a giant tree exactly how to grow a spiky house! - Sometimes, a single hackberry leaf can be covered with hundreds of tiny midge galls! - These amazing galls protect the midge larvae inside from hungry predators! ## Special abilities - **Gall Architect:** Hackberry Aciculate Gall Midge can manipulate hackberry trees to grow protective galls, creating a safe nursery for its larvae. - **Chemical Communicator:** Hackberry Aciculate Gall Midge has specialized chemicals that trick host trees into forming its unique, spiky leaf galls. - **Precision Egg-Layer:** Hackberry Aciculate Gall Midge can precisely lay eggs onto specific hackberry leaf tissues to ensure proper gall formation. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 2-5 mm - **Size:** 1-3 mm - **Lifespan:** 200-300 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Larvae feed on hackberry leaf tissue, while adults typically do not feed during their short lives. - **Age differences:** Larvae feed on plant tissue; adults have vestigial mouthparts and may not feed. - **Primary Foods:** Hackberry leaf tissue, Hackberry sap, Plant cells ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Common Hackberry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-hackberry) (*Celtis occidentalis*) — larvae feed and develop within its induced leaf galls. - **Eaten by:** Gall Wasp (*Torymus tubicola*) — wasp larvae parasitize midge larvae within the protective gall. - **Eaten by:** [Carolina Chickadee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/carolina-chickadee) (*Poecile carolinensis*) — chickadees may peck open galls to extract the developing larvae. - **Eaten by:** European Garden Spider (*Araneus diadematus*) — adult midges are sometimes caught in spiderwebs while flying. ## 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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [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:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Hackberry Aciculate 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 Hackberry Aciculate Gall Midge's wingspan? 2-5 mm ### How big is Hackberry Aciculate Gall Midge? 1-3 mm ### How long does Hackberry Aciculate Gall Midge live? 200-300 days ### What does Hackberry Aciculate Gall Midge eat? Larvae feed on hackberry leaf tissue, while adults typically do not feed during their short lives. ### Where is Hackberry Aciculate Gall Midge usually found? Hackberry trees in forests and urban areas. ### How many legs does Hackberry Aciculate Gall Midge have? 6 ## Where to spot - [George Bush Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/george-bush-park) — Texas, US · Park ## 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: [Hackberry Aciculate Gall Midge Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hackberry-aciculate-gall-midge)