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Photo#270885
Willow Pinecone Gall Midge - Rabdophaga strobiloides
Copyright © 2009 John Pearson

Willow Pinecone Gall Midge - Rabdophaga strobiloides

Alpha, Fayette County, Iowa, USA
April 28, 2009
Size: ~2.5 cm
Gall on terminal bud of sandbar willow (Salix exigua = S. interior) at edge of wetland. This may be a "pine cone gall", possibly Rhabdophaga persimilis if I am interpreting Felt's book correctly. I cut open a gall (see upper left part of photo) but found nothing inside.
Contributed by John Pearson on 29 April, 2009 - 10:37pm
Last updated 8 May, 2009 - 5:50pm

Comments

Rabdophaga strobiloides
These key to Rabdophaga strobiloides in Gagne's book on midge galls. He lists R. persimilis as one of many species that "were reared from willow but without definite reference to particular damage." I see that Felt lists these two species together, without differentiating them--not sure what to make of that; the latter may be an inquiline of the former, whose galls Gagne says are "one of the most common on willow."
… Charley Eiseman, 30 April, 2009 - 12:00am

 
Thanks again, Charley
MJ Hatfield, who assisted me with identifying this gall to genus, has also observed it on another species of willow here in Iowa.
… John Pearson, 30 April, 2009 - 6:54am

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