clarkeae or laeviana

Classification · Range · Remarks · Works Cited

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon ("Nematocera" (Non-Brachycera))

Infraorder Bibionomorpha (Gnats, Gall Midges, and March Flies)

Superfamily Sciaroidea (Fungus Gnats and Gall Midges)

Family Cecidomyiidae (Gall Midges and Wood Midges)

Subfamily Cecidomyiinae (Gall Midges)

Supertribe Lasiopteridi

Tribe Alycaulini

Genus Asteromyia

No Taxon clarkeae or laeviana

Range

Throughout North America. (1)

Remarks

On asters, larvae develop in "circular, variously colored leaf blister or soft, black or purple swelling of twig of inflorescence. . . Asteromyia clarkeae (Felt) and A. laeviana (Felt) form the same kind of galls and have hosts in common. A characteristic fungus is associated with the galls but may be only a benign associate. The fungus eventually develops into a black cast surrounding the larvae. Both gall midge species have several generations per year beginning on the lower cauline leaves in spring and progressing upward through the summer. The blisters are 4-10 mm in diameter, or in length if they occur on twigs, and the color varies with the host." (1)

Works Cited

1.	The Plant-Feeding Gall Midges of North America Raymond J. Gagné. 1989. Cornell University Press.

Contributed by Charley Eiseman on 24 July, 2011 - 2:28pm

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