GALL INDUCING FLIES
 
When I saw plant galls for the first time I wanted to know what species there were to be found basically, and so I started collecting anything that looked like a plant gall. Boxes full of them I have now. Nowadays I think it is better for me to take pictures (digital or slides) and when you are interested in the gall maker itself, it is a good idea to try to get the inhabitants to emerge from the galls. The list of species described below are gall makers and their hosts, from species that I myself or another gall studying person has seen. A description is given and, where possible, a picture. For people who are interested in the Dutch distribution of pant galls can soon take a look at the database we are preparing for this website. Since the subject of plant galls becomes more popular only recently, we do not have yet such an extended database. Any contribution is welcome!
Chirosia betuleti is a midge of the Anthomyiidae, causing the tip of the frond to get rolled upwards in a loose, collection of pinnae (Redfern et al. 2002). Inside lives a white maggot that mines along rachis causing it to coil. The gall is not very rare, but not so common.

(Picture: J. Wolfs)
   
Lipara species occur on Phragmites australis, Reed.

(pictures: B. Kabbes)
   

Urophora cardui is a fly that causes spectaculair deformations of the stem of Cirsium arvense. The gall has a very compact internal structure and there are several larvae in one gall. The gall is often positioned on the dividing branches or in the top end of the plant. In case of the latter the formation of flowers is prevented due to the galling. The galls are round and elongated, strait or bended. They are between 6-50 mm long and 4-20 mm in diameter. Inside the larvae chambers are irregular and the larvae are white of colour. The gall starts with being green and shiny, but later turns brown and more hard. The maggot transforms inside the gall.

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