Gall Midges
Scientific group or name: Cecidomyiidae
Overview
Gall midges are small flies whose larvae may form galls, feed in buds or attack flowers, shoots and fruit. The family also includes beneficial predatory species.
Host plants
Many vegetables, fruit crops, ornamentals and trees.
Identification
Adults are delicate mosquito-like flies. Larvae are small maggots, often orange, yellow, white or pink depending on species.
Damage and symptoms
Pest species can distort shoots, abort flowers, create galls or damage developing fruit.
Lifecycle and favourable conditions
Risk is closely tied to host growth stage and adult emergence. Moist soil may support pupation for some species.
Monitoring
Examine the affected plant part and record host, symptom, larval colour and timing. Species-level diagnosis is essential.
Management
Remove infested tissue before larvae leave it, manage crop residues and use exclusion or rotation where appropriate.
Biological control and natural enemies
Natural parasitoids can be important. Do not confuse pest gall midges with the predatory aphid midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza.
Biological control should be selected only after the pest has been identified and the crop, temperature, growing environment and pest pressure have been considered.
Related BioWiki pages
This page provides general integrated pest-management information. Identification and control decisions should be confirmed for the crop and local situation.