Gall midge type insect on Baldcypress - Taxodiomyia

Moved

Moved from Cypress Leaf Gall Midge.
This is not Taxodiomyia taxodii, which Gagne (1) illustrates and describes as a "brown, swollen gall resembling a sausage." Gagne illustrates a gall that seems to be the same one you found, but it is caused by an undescribed species of Taxodiomyia.

… Charley Eiseman, 11 January, 2011 - 8:38pm

Moved

Moved from Gall Midges.

… Will Chatfield-Taylor, 24 December, 2007 - 12:07pm

great galls

There is a photo with galls like yours at the very bottom of this page (scroll down past all the mushrooms). The species on that web site is labeled Itonida taxodii -- family Cecidomyiidae.

Felt's "Plant Galls and Gall Makers" (1940) lists four galls on baldcypress: a modified seed gall; a twig swelling; a white flower-shaped gall (also seen at the above link); and a "globular or conical leaf swelling" midge gall, Itonida taxodii (unfortunately no drawing of the last one). If we were to go by Felt's book, your galls would be Itonida taxodii, though the description could be improved a bit.

I'm not an expert, and Felt's book is not up-to-date and not complete. Unfortunately there aren't more up-to-date books that I know of. I don't see much information on this species or cypress galls in general online.

… Joyce Gross, 20 November, 2007 - 2:16am

Renamed

The new name for the species is Taxodiomyia taxodii. The genus name means "cypress fly." Itonida as a genus name has not been valid since 1963 when it was suppressed in favor of Cecidomyia.

I moved the species page to a new genus. (Why I didn't rename the existing genus page, I don't know.)

… John F. Carr, 15 February, 2010 - 5:50pm

much obliged

Many thanks!! This one had me stumped and I couldn't find it through a search of the web. I certainly appreciate the help.

… rusticolus, 20 November, 2007 - 8:56am