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Willow Pinecone Gall Midge
ExploreInsects
Willow Pinecone Gall Midge
Rabdophaga strobiloides
The Willow Pinecone Gall Midge is a tiny insect that makes special galls on willow trees. These galls look like little pinecones and are homes for the midge's babies!
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The Willow Pinecone Gall Midge is a tiny, delicate fly, typically reddish-brown to dark gray with transparent wings. Its slender body and long legs give it a mosquito-like appearance, though it is much smaller and often overlooked.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderDipteraFamilyCecidomyiidaeGenusRabdophaga
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Each gall can contain several midge larvae, all safely hidden inside their leafy home.
Even when willow leaves fall, the midge galls stay on the branches all winter long!
The adult midge is so small, it could easily hide on your fingernail!
The strange 'pinecone' you see on a willow tree is actually a house built by this tiny midge!
Special abilities
Ability
Gall Architect
Willow Pinecone Gall Midge can chemically induce willow trees to grow protective 'pinecone' galls, which shelter their developing young.
Ability
Willow Whisperer
Willow Pinecone Gall Midge has a precise ability to target specific willow buds, ensuring the gall forms exactly where their larvae need to develop.
Ability
Bud Burrower
Willow Pinecone Gall Midge can lay its eggs directly into young willow buds, initiating the gall formation process for its offspring.
Measurements & details
- Wingspan
- 4-8 mm
- Size
- 2-4 mm
- Lifespan
- 7-14 days
- Flight Speed
- 0.5 km/h
- Leg Count
- 6
Diet & Feeding
Young midges eat willow tree sap and tissue from inside their special plant home.
Age differences: Adult midges do not feed, while larvae consume willow plant tissue within the gall.
Primary Foods
- Willow bud sap
- Willow stem tissue
- Willow leaf tissue
Ecological connections
depends on
White Willow
Salix alba
for gall formation and larval development.
eats
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
forages on galls to extract larvae.
parasitizes
Gall Midge Parasitoid Wasp
Platygaster saliciperda
larvae developing inside midge larvae.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Miniature
Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch galls; they are homes for tiny insects!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Willow Pinecone Gall Midge's wingspan?
4-8 mm
How big is Willow Pinecone Gall Midge?
2-4 mm
How long does Willow Pinecone Gall Midge live?
7-14 days
How fast can Willow Pinecone Gall Midge fly?
0.5 km/h
What does Willow Pinecone Gall Midge eat?
Young midges eat willow tree sap and tissue from inside their special plant home.
Where is Willow Pinecone Gall Midge usually found?
Forests
How many legs does Willow Pinecone Gall Midge have?
6
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