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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) » Cecidomyiidi » Asphondyliini » Polystepha » Polystepha globosa

Species Polystepha globosa

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Size · Food · Remarks
Oak Leaf Galls - Polystepha globosa Gall on red oak - Polystepha globosa Gall on red oak - Polystepha globosa galls on Red Oak leaf - Polystepha globosa Top - Polystepha globosa Polystepha globosa Lake Crabtree leaf galls on Quercus nigra D_G115 2021 1 - Polystepha globosa Lake Crabtree leaf galls on Quercus nigra D_G115 2021 2 - Polystepha globosa
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 Cecidomyiidi
Tribe Asphondyliini
Genus Polystepha
Species globosa (Polystepha globosa)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Cincticornia globosa Felt
Size
Galls are 1/15" in diameter (~2 mm)
Food
Forms small spherical galls on leaves of black oak (Quercus velutina) and perhaps other red oaks, usually on the underside.
Remarks
This is the only spherical gall found on oaks that is not caused by a cynipid wasp. Goldfinches have been observed opening the galls to feed on the larvae (see blog post here).
Contributed by Charley Eiseman on 10 April, 2009 - 9:54pm
Last updated 12 December, 2012 - 8:12pm

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