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Four winged gall (Eriococcidae)

Apiomorpha munita (ssp.)

Photo by MartinL
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

A gall bug (Hemiptera) induces the plant to grow this four-winged leafy clump containing the insect safely inside.

The second smaller gall is a separate spotting found in Coldstream. It has four wings but smaller, I guess it is a younger specimen.

Notes:

Similar one found here ;
http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_softbugs/Two-tailedGumtreeGall…
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/8193742

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)
MartinL
This appears to be one of the three subspecies of A. munita according to entomology.ucdavis.edu/gullanandcranstonlab/.../70Gullan_etal2005_B.pdf another is shown here http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_softbugs/FourHornedGumtreeGall.htm
Leuba Ridgway
Martin, you're more knowledgeable about these things. Have a look at this document about galls - hope this helps entomology.ucdavis.edu/gullanandcranstonlab/.../70Gullan_etal2005_B.pdf
MartinL
I've added a second spotting that maybe a younger specimen or possibly a different species???
MartinL
Every cell in the plant branch has DNA that can produce leaves. For example a leaf bud grows from branch tissue. I believe the eriococcid bug has produced a chemical that stimulates leaf growth from its gall. The "leaves" are only partially accurate. Is this beneficial? Is this coincidental? Most galls don't do this. This is my guess.
Mark Ridgway
Interesting one. Do you think these are modified leaves or are they produced from a stem and just look like leaves?

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Photographed
PublishedFebruary 26, 2012

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