gall midges and wood midges

(Family Cecidomyiidae)

Overview

Cecidomyiidae is a very large family of small, very small, and minute flies. According to Catalogue of Life, there are currently 7,277 recognized Cecidomyiidae species in 926 genera in 45 tribes in 7 subfamilies worldwide. According to BugGuide.net, there are “well over” 1,000 species in about 190 genera in 5 subfamilies in North America north of Mexico, but it adds “actual numbers are expected to be much higher.” The number of species in Minnesota is unknown, but Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve states that “it is likely that a specialist could find at least 500 species in every state in the Union.”

 
gall or wood midge (Family Cecidomyiidae)
Photo by Alfredo Colon
 

Cecidomyiidae occurs worldwide on every continent except Antarctica, in every province in Canada, and in every state in the United States. A recent molecular DNA study (Hebert et al., 2016) estimated there are more than 16,000 species in Canada alone. The same study suggests that there may be more than one million undescribed cecidomyiid species worldwide. If found to be true, Cecidomyiidae would be the most species rich family in the animal kingdom.

The family is traditionally called “gall midges,” but it includes wood midges (subfamily Lestremiinae), which do not form galls, and the common name “gall midges” is also applied to the subfamily Cecidomyiinae. BugGuide.net uses the common name “gall midges and wood midges” and iNaturalist uses the common name “gall and forest midges.” In technical literature, they are often called cecidomyiids.

The larvae of most species form plant galls. They feed within plant tissue. The plant responds by producing another type of cell locally to repair the wound and isolate the damage. This creates a swelling in which the larva lives and feeds. Some species feed on plant matter but do not form galls, some species are predaceous, and a few species are parasitic. Several genera that feed on fungi reproduce without ever reaching the adult stage.

Description

Cecidomyiidae adults are usually 116 to (2 to 3 mm) in length, but some are less than 132 (1 mm) long, and some are up to 516 (8 mm) long. Most are slender bodied. Many are orange or yellow.

The antennae are long, and on most species, they have 12 to 14 segments. The mouthparts are reduced. On most species, the compound eyes meet at the top of the head. Only wood midges in the subfamily Lestremiinae have simple eyes (ocelli) in addition to their compound eyes. Others do not.

The wings are usually clear, and the venation is reduced. There are 7 or fewer veins that reach the wing margin. On most species, only 4 veins are well developed.

The legs are long and slender.

Most larvae are orange or yellow. The head is tiny. They have breathing pores (spiracles) in a row on both sides of the body.

Distribution

Distribution Map

 

Sources

24, 27, 29, 30, 82.

12/28/2024    
Taxonomy

Order

Diptera (flies)

Suborder

Nematocera (long-horned flies)

Infraorder

Bibionomorpha (gnats and allies)

Superfamily

Sciaroidea (fungus gnats and gall midges)

   

Subordinate Taxa

Subfamily Catotrichinae

Subfamily Cecidomyiinae (gall midges)

Subfamily Lasiopterinae

Subfamily Lestodiplosinae

Subfamily Lestremiinae (wood midges)

Subfamily Micromyinae (wood midges)

Subfamily Porricondylinae

Subfamily Winnertziinae

   

Synonyms

Cecidomyidae (misspelling)

   

Common Names

cecidomyiids

gall and forest midges

gall gnats

gall midges

gall midges and wood midges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Gall

An abnormal growth on a plant produced in response to an insect larva, mite, bacteria, or fungus.

 

Ocellus

Simple eye; an eye with a single lens. Plural: ocelli.

 

Spiracle

A small opening on the surface of an insect or arachnid through which it breathes.

 

 

 

 

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Alfredo Colon

gall or wood midge (Family Cecidomyiidae)
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Diptera/Cecidomyiidae
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Diptera/Cecidomyiidae

Cecidomyiidae
ruiamandrade

Cecidomyiidae

 

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Other Videos

Gallmidge (Cecidomyiidae) on Ash Leaf
Carl Barrentine

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Jun 10, 2010

Photographed at Grand Forks, North Dakota (09 June 2010).

Gallmidge Larvae (Cecidomyiidae) in Boxelder Leaf
Carl Barrentine

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May 19, 2010

Photographed at Grand Forks, North Dakota (19 May 2010).

A fly of the family Cecidomyiidae, known as gall midges or gall gnats
Music and Gallery - Nature

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pr 5, 2023

Unidentified Gall Midge, Cecidomyiidae on Pac Choi 20190725 131358
Ray Perry

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Nov 3, 2021

 

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Alfredo Colon
6/2/2021

Location: Woodbury, MN

gall or wood midge (Family Cecidomyiidae)
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Created: 12/28/2024

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