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Melaleuca gall

Photo by Leuba Ridgway
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

Terminal ovoid shaped galls resembling a young fruit with intact pistil remnants found on the branches of feathery melaleuca bush. The gall when opened had a single locule and a minute larval form of ? insect. <br> The larva was orange in colour about 2 mm long with a distinct head, thorax and segmented abdomen. There were 3 pairs of legs and black tipped antennae. Eyes were just minute black spots. <br> The larva was extremely active and tried to run away from the opened gall. <br> Pic 6 has the actual seed pods. Pic 5 shows the open gall with the larva as an orange spot in the centre of the pic.

Habitat:

Spotted on a stand of Melaleuca plants ( possibly M. parvistaminea) growing in a slightly swampy area of a conservation zone - Lysterfield lake Park

Notes:

I was amazed by the size of the small but very active larval form and saddened that I destroyed its home. <br> I will have to seek expert help with this curious connection and hopefully can add to the spotting later. Something I've never seen before now.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (3)
Leuba Ridgway
John B thank you for your kind words. Your teacher was so right - we all learn from each other and Project Noah has taught me a lot. So much of what I know now I owe to the people in this community - some have moved on. Galls are very interesting in that although they are plant tissue, their appearance is specific to the life form that induced them. Have a look at some of the eucalyptus leaf and stem galls on PN...fascinating.
John B.
Hi Leuba, I must start by admitting my complete and utter lack of knowledge of plants. I have carefully avoided them, mostly from fear of embarrassing myself by showing my ignorance. Your description, however was so interesting that I actually enjoyed reading about "galls". I have never heard of galls before and now here I am admitting it. You reminded me that one of my teachers, many decades ago told me. " Don't be afraid to admit that you don't know something. Listen and learn because everything we know has been taught to us by someone else." I suddenly want to learn a little about plants. I guess this is what Project Noah is all about. Thank you. John B.
Mark Ridgway
Science. Now we know what needs to be protected.

Spotted for Missions

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Signs of Wildlife
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Interaction between different species of Arthropods
Photographed
PublishedApril 28, 2022

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