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Photo#168212
Beetle larva in goldenrod gall. Goldenrod round gall parasitoid - Mordellistena

Beetle larva in goldenrod gall. Goldenrod round gall parasitoid - Mordellistena
Churchville Nature Center, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA
February 3, 2008
Size: 6mm
6 mm when fully stretched.
In a goldenrod gall. Beetles of the genus Mordellistena parasitize the gall of the fly Eurosta solidaginis. Could this be it?
Southeastern PA
I found a maggot in another gall nearby in the same patch of goldenrod.


Several adult Mordellistena convicta emerged from these same galls so, probably, this is the same species


The interactions between the goldenrod, the fly and the parasites are quite interesting. See this article

More on goldenrod gall parasitoids.

Images of this individual: tag all
Beetle larva in goldenrod gall. Goldenrod round gall parasitoid - Mordellistena Beetle larva in goldenrod gall - Mordellistena Beetle larva in goldenrod gall - Mordellistena

May well be
Larvae of Mordellistena I know are yellow, but otherwise identical.

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