Diptera, Hymenoptera, Acarina, Homoptera

Identification
• Larvae are usually white, legless, and ¹/₁₆-¹/₈" long.
• The gall is formed of plant tissue and is the tree’s response to the larva’s physical feeding or chemicals released by the larva.
• The gall that is formed is so specific that the gall species can be identified by the gall’s appearance.

Damage
• Galls are obvious to the observer and can be considered aesthetically unpleasing, odd, or attractive depending on the gall and the observer.

Management
• Because attacked trees and shrubs grow as well as neighboring unattacked individuals, control is usually not necessary.
• Little is known of the biology of most gall species which makes effective control timing and methods difficult to determine.

Other Information
• Many kinds of insects and mites have taken advantage of living as a gall. The gall tissue provides a ready supply of food for the gall larva and protection from dessication and most predators.