gall midge

Minute and fragile long-legged flies, with longish hairy antennae. The larvae are small maggots, ranging in colour from white or yellow, to orange and bright red, that feed on developing fruits which become deformed and decay, and frequently produce galls on plants.

Some forms live within galls formed by other insects, such as beetles, or other species of Cecidomyiidae. The hessian fly of North America and New Zealand, is a pest of wheat. The pearl midge Contarinia pyrivota is a serious fruit pest in Europe.

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