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? Fly galls on Giant Honey Myrtle

Fergusonina sp (fly) /Fergusobia (nematode)

Photo by Leuba Ridgway
Published on Project Noah
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-37.894, 145.302

Field Notes

Description:

Smooth spherical green galls about 5 mm seen probably involving terminal leaf buds of this Giant Honey Myrtle. Both galls had tiny holes indicating a possible parasitisation of the larva inside by a gall wasp.

Habitat:

Spotted on a Giant Honey Myrtle ( Melaleuca armillaria) growing beside a creek.

Notes:

The gall fly Fergusonina & the nematode Fergusobia have a mutualistic association with gall formation. These are known to form galls in Myrtaceae including the species in this spotting. They are known to be attacked by a parasitoid wasp. Terminal leaf bud galls are usually said to be large but this is species-dependant. I assume these galls were still developing.
The ID of the gall architects needs confirmation.

Except for a pdf document, I am not able to find any information that might support the ID. No reference at this stage.

Species ID Suggestions

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