madily's Favorites
Photos / Sounds
What
Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)Observer
rynaturalistDescription
Unknown c-cordulatus-abrupt-stem-swelling-gall
Photos / Sounds
What
Andricus reticulatusObserver
anudibranchmomDescription
Oak Gall Wasp (tentatively Feron sp.) collected as a gall on Engelmann Oak on 2/18/23 at Santa Ysabel Preserve by @madily. See discussion here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/149459575
Two batches of photos:
1) Live adult photos are of the live wasp, taken through the Ziploc plastic and then photoshopped. Too afraid I'll lose it if I do anything else for now.
2) Wasp died in the Ziploc 3/5/2023. Dead adult photos taken with Olympus TG-6 and added to this observation the same day. Will ship specimen to @megachile for better photography.
Possibilities: In the bag @madily gave me to deliver to the Norcal oak gall fans, I have two Englemanns twigs. The first has a single 'Feron' gall, which is still attached to the underside of its leaf and appears to have an exit hole at the top (which may have been there already, eg, an empty gall). The second twig has a leaf with both an Andricus reticulatus and a Feron gall, next to each other. This was iNatted en situ: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/149766861 That Feron gall has since fallen off the leaf and does not appear to have an exit hole. The Andricus reticulatus gall does have an exit hole now, but that may have been there before.
Therefore... this adult could be 1) the Feron sp. inducer, 2) a parasitoid wasp; or 3) or Andricus reticulatus. Or something else that hitchhiked on the twigs, but that seems unlikely. There may be other possibilities as well!
A non-exhaustive search for online photos of adult Andricus reticulatus came up empty. Does anyone have one?
Photos / Sounds
What
Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera)Observer
kelptaylorDescription
Came out of this Astragalus gall: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/121337201
Photos / Sounds
What
Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)Observer
kelptaylorDescription
Larvae on the inside of this gall on Astragalus: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/121337201
Photos / Sounds
What
Gall and Forest Midges (Family Cecidomyiidae)Observer
rosemaryglosDescription
On Mentzelia involucrata. Not certain on the ID, but the limited information on Mentzelia stem galls implicates a Cecidomyiid. See e.g. https://www.gallformers.org/host/1859 (on M. multiflora) and this old record on a Mentzelia sp. https://books.google.com/books?id=z8lOAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA27&lpg=RA2-PA27&dq=mentzelia+gall&source=bl&ots=Jj5wk4Qs10&sig=ACfU3U33pEZkwLjD9P0dURpVRsycZbdm7g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiLj7PTz5v4AhW9oI4IHa8kATgQ6AF6BAgfEAM#v=onepage&q=mentzelia%20&f=false
Photos / Sounds
What
Gall Midges (Subfamily Cecidomyiinae)Observer
kelptaylorDescription
Gall on astragalus
Photos / Sounds
What
Gall and Forest Midges (Family Cecidomyiidae)Observer
rosemaryglosDescription
On Mentzelia veatchiana. Not certain on the ID, but the limited information on Mentzelia stem galls implicates a Cecidomyiid. See e.g. https://www.gallformers.org/host/1859 (on M. multiflora) and this old record on a Mentzelia sp. https://books.google.com/books?id=z8lOAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA27&lpg=RA2-PA27&dq=mentzelia+gall&source=bl&ots=Jj5wk4Qs10&sig=ACfU3U33pEZkwLjD9P0dURpVRsycZbdm7g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiLj7PTz5v4AhW9oI4IHa8kATgQ6AF6BAgfEAM#v=onepage&q=mentzelia%20&f=false
Photos / Sounds
What
Gall and Forest Midges (Family Cecidomyiidae)Observer
rosemaryglosDescription
On Mentzelia veatchiana. Not certain on the ID, but the limited information on Mentzelia stem galls implicates a Cecidomyiid. See e.g. https://www.gallformers.org/host/1859 (on M. multiflora) and this old record on a Mentzelia sp. https://books.google.com/books?id=z8lOAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA27&lpg=RA2-PA27&dq=mentzelia+gall&source=bl&ots=Jj5wk4Qs10&sig=ACfU3U33pEZkwLjD9P0dURpVRsycZbdm7g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiLj7PTz5v4AhW9oI4IHa8kATgQ6AF6BAgfEAM#v=onepage&q=mentzelia%20&f=false
Photos / Sounds
What
Gall and Forest Midges (Family Cecidomyiidae)Observer
rosemaryglosDescription
On Mentzelia micrantha. Not certain on the ID, but the limited information on Mentzelia stem galls implicates a Cecidomyiid. See e.g. https://www.gallformers.org/host/1859 (on M. multiflora) and this old record on a Mentzelia sp. https://books.google.com/books?id=z8lOAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA27&lpg=RA2-PA27&dq=mentzelia+gall&source=bl&ots=Jj5wk4Qs10&sig=ACfU3U33pEZkwLjD9P0dURpVRsycZbdm7g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiLj7PTz5v4AhW9oI4IHa8kATgQ6AF6BAgfEAM#v=onepage&q=mentzelia%20&f=false
Photos / Sounds
What
Gall and Forest Midges (Family Cecidomyiidae)Observer
rosemaryglosDescription
On Mentzelia micrantha. Not certain on the ID, but the limited information on Mentzelia stem galls implicates a Cecidomyiid. See e.g. https://www.gallformers.org/host/1859 (on M. multiflora) and this old record on a Mentzelia sp. https://books.google.com/books?id=z8lOAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA27&lpg=RA2-PA27&dq=mentzelia+gall&source=bl&ots=Jj5wk4Qs10&sig=ACfU3U33pEZkwLjD9P0dURpVRsycZbdm7g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiLj7PTz5v4AhW9oI4IHa8kATgQ6AF6BAgfEAM#v=onepage&q=mentzelia%20&f=false
Photos / Sounds
What
Intermediate Mariposa Lily (Calochortus weedii var. intermedius)Observer
salvmell
Photos / Sounds
What
Insects (Class Insecta)Observer
milliebasdenDescription
gall on Astragalus trichopodus lonchus
Photos / Sounds
What
Manzanita Leafgall Aphid (Tamalia coweni)Observer
sagevinjeDescription
Found on Arctostaphylos sp.
Photos / Sounds
What
Oak Gall Wasps (Tribe Cynipini)Observer
anudibranchmomDescription
On Valley Oak
Photos / Sounds
What
Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)Observer
garth_harwoodDescription
Host: Chamise. Apparently an undescribed cone gall type; several of these found on and near same plant that had Eriophyes adenostomae mite galls. Very small. Body of gall is visible between bracts, unlike other Chamise rosette galls I have observed.
Photos / Sounds
What
Insects (Class Insecta)Observer
milliebasdenDescription
same gall/same plant observed 11 days ago: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/105810955
Photos / Sounds
What
Insects (Class Insecta)Observer
milliebasdenDescription
several similar stem galls on this one plant Astragalus trichopodus lonchus; no galls seen on other nearby plants of same species
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus RhopalomyiaObserver
ekoberleDescription
What appears to be galls on Hazardia squarrosa
Photos / Sounds
What
Cushing Manzanita (Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. cushingiana)Observer
milliebasden
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus BlaesodiplosisObserver
garth_harwoodDescription
Host: Serviceberry. Russo (2006), in Plant Galls of CA, pg. 324, discusses several undescribed species in this genus, some of which were discovered while preparing his first field guide in 2004. In his 2021 updated field guide, pgs. 316-317, it becomes apparent that this gall maker must be his "Red-Lip-Gall Midge", or Blaesodiplosis sp. E, although it is much more densely distributed on the leaves than in the photographed example.
This observation originally misidentified the host plant as Common Snowberry.
Photos / Sounds
What
Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)Observer
susanmfDescription
Host = Bahiopsis parishii
Could this be an old gall of Procecidochares stonei?
Photos / Sounds
What
White Oaks (Section Quercus)Observer
madilyDescription
In the White oak group?
Photos / Sounds
What
Asphondylia betheliObserver
stevejonesDescription
Fruit with discolorations and shape malformations show early signs of A. betheli presence. Host Opuntia engelmannii
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus RhopalomyiaObserver
cae1Description
Gall on brittlebush
(Encelia farinosa).
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus RhopalomyiaObserver
cae1Description
Gall on brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) leaf.
Photos / Sounds
What
Bullet-Gall Wasp (Heteroecus malus)Observer
nelruzamDescription
Q. chrysolepis host
@madily
Photos / Sounds
Observer
milliebasdenDescription
Asteromyia modesta is only gall inducer I found for this genus, but these galls look different--fuzzy and seem to arise from stem at base of leaf; fingernail dissection attempted--not sure if one chamber or more than one
Photos / Sounds
Observer
u_phantasticusDescription
Working on IDing the host here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/97319880
@madily do these look like galls? Non-detachable, seemed like part of the plant tissue. Cut one open but nothing inside that I could find, though they seem very fresh.
Photos / Sounds
What
Tribe NematiniObserver
u_phantasticusDescription
On Salix sp. @madily Not sure about this one
Photos / Sounds
What
Gall and Forest Midges (Family Cecidomyiidae)Observer
silversea_starsongPlace
Otay National Co-op. Land and Wildlife Mngmt. Area, San Diego, California, United States (Google, OSM)
Photos / Sounds
What
Gall and Forest Midges (Family Cecidomyiidae)Observer
stevejonesDescription
Host Artemisia dracunculus. Attributed to Rhopalomyia sp. in this paper. Multi-chambered gall, contrary to the paper's entry
Photos / Sounds
What
Gall and Forest Midges (Family Cecidomyiidae)Observer
carolblaneyDescription
Gall on Artemisia dracunculus (tarragon). The only reports in the scientific literature for galls on this plant species are for midges in the Cecidomyiidae. I'm putting this family in as a placeholder, until more is known.
Photos / Sounds
What
Gall Midges (Subfamily Cecidomyiinae)Observer
garth_harwoodDescription
Bud galls on Red Alder, possibly a new/undescribed species. Latter images show midge larvae found inside this gall and then, 2 small exterior holes that could be exit holes from previous emergences.
@megachile, @nancyasquith, @madily, @kemper
Photos / Sounds
What
Oak Gall Wasps (Tribe Cynipini)Observer
newtpatrolDescription
I assume this is a gall, but maybe it's not? Quite small. On what I think is a Blue Oak, or a hybrid with Valley Oak.
Photos / Sounds
What
True Bugs, Hoppers, Aphids, and Allies (Order Hemiptera)Observer
earth_tideDescription
gall on Oxalis corniculata
Photos / Sounds
What
Chalcidoid Wasps (Superfamily Chalcidoidea)Observer
u_phantasticusDescription
Raised some larvae from a mystery gall found on Heliotropium curassavicum and this is what emerged. See https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/88902184 for more details.
I'll try to get better photos tomorrow when the light is better.
Photos / Sounds
What
Gall Midges (Subfamily Cecidomyiinae)Observer
lilithohlsonDescription
On a coastal whitethorn Ceanothus.
Photos / Sounds
What
Oak Gall Wasps (Tribe Cynipini)Observer
garth_harwoodDescription
Possibly Russo's 'Basket Gall Wasp' (Unknown #6) on Blue Oak. See Russo (2021), pg. 127. Russo describes this as occurring only on Blue Oaks and known only from the Redding CA area perhaps 100 miles NW from here, and as occurring only on dorsal surfaces. These were present more or less equally on both dorsal and ventral leaf surfaces.
Photos / Sounds
What
Lupine Leaf Gall Midge (Dasineura lupinorum)Observer
meravDescription
leaf gall on lupine
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus DisholandricusObserver
u_phantasticusDescription
Host: Quercus chrysolepis
Photos / Sounds
What
Northern Red-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus ssp. cafer)Observer
garth_harwood
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus HeteroecusObserver
garth_harwoodDescription
Host: Canyon Live Oak. I believe this is Russo's "Rosy-Tear-Gall Wasp" as it meets all of the structural and other criteria given in his 2021 field guide (pg. 151, plate 216) excepting location, this example being a bud gall instead of a midrib leaf gall. @megachile, @madily, @nancyasquith, @kemper
Photos / Sounds
What
Sierra Bog Orchid (Platanthera dilatata var. leucostachys)Observer
lagoondonDescription
Another species that is uncommon in southern Calif. and more common in the sierras
Photos / Sounds
What
Woodland Pinedrops (Pterospora andromedea)Observer
gregpaulyDescription
About 2 ft tall. Cluster of four live spikes and four dead spikes. Three other pinedrops within 2 meters.
Photos / Sounds
What
Fourwing Saltbush Woolly Gall Midge (Asphondylia neomexicana)Observer
beetle_mchDescription
On Atriplex: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/69656188
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus ExobasidiumObserver
morganstickrodDescription
On Arctostaphylos x media
Photos / Sounds
What
Gall Midges (Subfamily Cecidomyiinae)Observer
u_phantasticusDescription
Galls found on alkali heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum)
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus EuuraObserver
milliebasdenDescription
on non-native Quercus ilex [Edit: or on Arroyo Willow, see discussion below]
Photos / Sounds
What
Gnome Plant (Hemitomes congestum)Observer
meravPlace
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Redwood National Park, Humboldt, California, United States (Google, OSM)
Photos / Sounds
What
Family MomphidaeObserver
garth_harwoodDescription
Best guess as to the maker of these galls on Epilobium ciliata (Fringed Willowherb.) Moths of this group are known to gall the stems of other Epilobium species such as CA Fuchsia. @ceiseman, @megachile, @nancyasquith, @madily
Photos / Sounds
What
Oak Gall Wasps (Tribe Cynipini)Observer
manidaeDescription
This was on an Engelmann as well
Photos / Sounds
What
Branigan's Kermes (Allokermes branigani)Observer
alice_abelaDescription
Figueroa Mountain area, Santa Barbara County, California
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus HeteroecusObserver
madilyDescription
On Q. chrysolepis.
I believe this is undescribed Club Vein Gall Wasp (Russo 2006 pg. 192 Pl. 158)
Also listed on joycegross.com in the undescribed California oak galls section as Gall type #10: https://joycegross.com/galls/gall010.html
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus DasineuraObserver
madilyDescription
On Q. chrysolepis.
Wondering if this might be the undescribed ‘Purse Gall Midge’ (Russo 2006 pg. 186 Pl. 151. Only current host listed is Q. vacciniifolia.
Photos / Sounds
What
Gall and Forest Midges (Family Cecidomyiidae)Observer
madilyDescription
Midge? gall on Arctostaphylos pringlei drupacea.
Photos / Sounds
What
Gall and Forest Midges (Family Cecidomyiidae)Observer
madilyDescription
Midge? gall on Arctostaphylos pringlei drupacea
Photos / Sounds
What
Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)Observer
biocowboyDescription
Found on Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis)
Photos / Sounds
What
Juniper Urn Gall Midge (Walshomyia juniperina)Observer
jaykellerDescription
I suppose this is correct, though it doesn't have much of an "urn" shape as others I have seen.
Photos / Sounds
What
Gall and Forest Midges (Family Cecidomyiidae)Observer
milliebasdenDescription
I collected a Corethrogyne filaginifolia plant with multiple galls on 10/1 and placed two flowers and one gall in a sealed container. Today I noticed the insect in the container and took these photos of it.
Photos / Sounds
What
Lyon's Gall Wasp (Heteroecus lyoni)Observer
susanmfDescription
Host plant is a Palmers Oak
Photos / Sounds
What
Eastern Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus ssp. zibethicus)Observer
dongminsungDescription
Confirm?
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus ContariniaObserver
madilyDescription
Collected gall from Ceanothus verrucosus on 4/11/21.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/73583630
Gall cut open to find larvae inside on 4/21/21 and placed in container with a cup of soil.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/74768171
7 midges emerged today.
