# Honeysuckle gall midge (*Lonicerae lonicera*) The honeysuckle gall midge is a tiny insect that makes special galls on honeysuckle plants. These galls are like little homes where the midge grows and develops, making them quite unique! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Honeysuckle gall midge](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Rhynchaenus_lonicerae_Herbst%252C_1795_%288356365771%29.png&width=800) Photo: Udo Schmidt from Deutschland, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rhynchaenus_lonicerae_Herbst%252C_1795_%288356365771%29.png) ## Appearance The Honeysuckle gall midge is a tiny, delicate insect, typically reddish-brown to orange in color. It has a slender body, long, segmented antennae, and two pairs of clear, iridescent wings. Its small size makes it easily overlooked among honeysuckle leaves. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Diptera - **Family:** Cecidomyiidae - **Genus:** Lonicerae ## Interesting facts - A single female midge can lay hundreds of eggs, each needing its own plant home! - Honeysuckle gall midges make bumpy homes on leaves that look like tiny, twisted horns! - Some other gall midges make galls that look like fluffy cotton or even fuzzy stars! - The larva inside its plant home actually drinks the plant's special juices like a straw! ## Special abilities - **Plant Architect:** Honeysuckle gall midge can trigger plants to grow protective 'galls' that shield its larvae because of special chemicals it injects. - **Growth Wizard:** Honeysuckle gall midge has the power to hijack plant cells, forcing them to create unique structures that provide food and shelter. - **Hidden Home:** Honeysuckle gall midge larvae can live safely inside plant galls, protected from many predators by their plant-made shell. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 2-5 mm - **Size:** 1-3 mm - **Lifespan:** 3-7 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Larvae feed on honeysuckle plant juices, but adult midges typically do not eat. - **Age differences:** Larvae consume plant tissue and sap from galls; adults typically do not feed. - **Primary Foods:** Honeysuckle sap, Honeysuckle plant cells ## Ecological connections - **Parasitizes:** [Honeysuckle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/honeysuckle) (*Lonicera periclymenum*) — Larvae cause galls to form, feeding on plant tissues. - **Eaten by:** Gall Wasp (*Torymus nitens*) — Larvae are parasitized by wasp larvae inside the gall. - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Adult midges may be eaten by small insectivorous birds. ## 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. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [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 Always wash your hands after touching plants or insects. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Honeysuckle 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 Honeysuckle gall midge's wingspan? 2-5 mm ### How big is Honeysuckle gall midge? 1-3 mm ### How long does Honeysuckle gall midge live? 3-7 days ### What does Honeysuckle gall midge eat? Larvae feed on honeysuckle plant juices, but adult midges typically do not eat. ### Where is Honeysuckle gall midge usually found? Forests ### How many legs does Honeysuckle gall midge have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Arroyo Conejo Open Space](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arroyo-conejo-open-space) — California, US · Park - [Conejo Valley Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/conejo-valley-botanical-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden ## 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: [Honeysuckle gall midge: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/honeysuckle-gall-midge)