These cones don’t hold any tree seeds, however. Instead, they harbor the “seeds” of a gall-midge called Rhabdophaga strobiloides. These are willow pine cone galls.

Gall Midges of Economic Importance . Vol. 4: Gall Midges of Ornamental Plants and Shrubs. By Dr. H. P. Barnes. (Agricultural and Horticultural Series.

Retired teacher Larry Weber, of Barnum, is the author of “Butterflies of the North Woods" and “Spiders of the North Woods," among other books. Reach him via Katie Rohman at [email protected].

Feb. 16—According to the calendar, the winter solstice (the first day of winter) was Dec. 21, and the vernal equinox (the first day of spring) will be on March 19 (usually, March 21, but this is ...

The willow pinecone gall midge, Rabdophaga strobiloides, was feeding inside these galls. Midges are small flies with two wings and they are common in marshy environments. Adult females lay their eggs ...

The ball gall is caused by a midge, a small fly, with spotted wings (Eurosta solidaginis). After the female lays an egg on the stem of the goldenrod, the larva hatches in about 10 days, eating and ...

Found: Often appearing on the same plant as the willow pine cone gall, this one was found on the banks of the river in Mississippi River County Park north of Sartell. Damage: Most galls don't hurt ...

These cone gall midges (Order Diptera, Family Cecidomyiidae), also spelled conegall, are flies that, in larval form, bite on the twig tips of various native willows — not humans.And these tiny ...

Galls are structures made up of plant tissue, forming in response to the saliva of mites or small insects as they feed. The number and variety of galls found on Cue: Trees and galls ...