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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Nematocera" (Non-Brachycera) » Gnats, Gall Midges, and March Flies (Bibionomorpha) » Fungus Gnats and Gall Midges (Sciaroidea) » Gall Midges and Wood Midges (Cecidomyiidae) » Gall Midges (Cecidomyiinae) » Lasiopteridi » Oligotrophini » Rhopalomyia

Genus Rhopalomyia

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Identification · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited

Cecidomyiinae, flower galls on Goldenrod - Rhopalomyia anthophila

Rhopalomyia anthophila pupa - Rhopalomyia anthophila

Cecidomyiidae, new gallX, under side of leaf - Rhopalomyia undescribed-species-on-amorpha

Rhopalomyia found on a big sagebrush - Rhopalomyia

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 Oligotrophini

Genus Rhopalomyia

Explanation of Names

Author: Rübsaamen 1892.

Numbers

Nearctica.com lists 89 species.

Arnett, p. 859, lists 86 species. (1).

Over 250 species worldwide.

Identification

Larvae white to very pale orange. Pupae usually light orange turning to dark orange or even red with age. Antennal bases of most goldenrod gall species do not develop into conspicuous horns. Abdominal segments with spicules.

Adults vary considerably in size.

Life Cycle

They induce galls in different plant parts, rhizomes, stems, leaves, flowers, etc. Some species have one generation per year, others have one fast growing generation in the spring and a slow growing one in summer.

Remarks

Most species are restricted to galls of the family Asteraceae, particularly the tribe Anthemidae, (goldenrods, 16 species).

Internet References

Mcclay-ecoscience.

Revision of the goldenrod-galling Rhopalomyia species (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in North America.

or: Complete text with key to goldenrod Rhopalomyia

New York State Museum

Encyclopedia of Life

Works Cited

1.	American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico Ross H. Arnett. 2000. CRC Press.

Contributed by Cotinis on 28 January, 2005 - 11:34pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset
Last updated 15 October, 2010 - 9:59am

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