Apiomorpha
Apiomorpha is a genus of scale insect that induces galls on species of Eucalyptus. Galls are initiated by first-instar nymphs on new plant growth and, when mature, the galls exhibit marked sexual dimorphism. Those induced by females are among the largest and most spectacular of arthropod-induced galls whereas those of males are small and most are tubular. Apiomorpha is known only from Australia and New Guinea although its host, Eucalyptus, has a wider distribution into Indonesia as well.
Apiomorpha is currently classified in the Eriococcidae, but this family is not monophyletic.
Morphology
Like other scale insects, Apiomorpha is highly sexually dimorphic. Adult females are wingless, have very small eyes, and their legs are short and stubby. A female remains within the gall she initiated when a crawler, mating through the small apical opening of her gall. She reproduces inside the gall and her tiny offspring escape through the same small opening. Adult females of Apiomorpha can range in length from 2 mm to 45 mm, depending on species, and can live up to five years as adults. In contrast, adult males of Apiomorpha are small and winged. Like males of other eriococcids, they do not have a mouth and, instead, have an extra pair of eyes on the underside of their head. Males leave their galls as adults and search for females. They are weak fliers and typically walk on their host plant looking for females before taking to the air. After leaving their gall, adult males only live about one day.
Species
Apiomorpha amarooensis Brimblecombe, 1959Apiomorpha annulata Froggatt, 1930Apiomorpha attenuata Apiomorpha baeuerleni Apiomorpha calycina Apiomorpha conica Apiomorpha crispa Apiomorpha cucurbita Fuller, 1897Apiomorpha densispinosa Gullan, 1984Apiomorpha dipsaciformis Apiomorpha duplex Apiomorpha excupula Apiomorpha floralis Apiomorpha frenchi Froggatt, 1921Apiomorpha gongylocarpae Mills, Garland, Semple & Cook, 2016Apiomorpha gullanae Cook, 2003Apiomorpha helmsii Fuller, 1897Apiomorpha hilli Froggatt, 1921Apiomorpha intermedia Gullan, 1984Apiomorpha jucundacrispi Mills, Garland, Semple & Cook, 2016Apiomorpha karschi Rübsaamen, 1894Apiomorpha longiloba Brimblecombe, 1959Apiomorpha macqueeni Froggatt, 1929Apiomorpha maliformis Fuller, 1897Apiomorpha malleeacola Gullan, 1984Apiomorpha munita Apiomorpha nookara Mills, MacDonald, Rigby & Cook, 2011Apiomorpha ovicola Apiomorpha ovicoloides Apiomorpha pedunculata Apiomorpha pharetrata Apiomorpha pileata Apiomorpha pomaphora Gullan & Jones, 1989Apiomorpha regularis Apiomorpha rosaeformis Apiomorpha sessilis Apiomorpha sloanei Apiomorpha spinifer Froggatt, 1930Apiomorpha strombylosa Apiomorpha subconica Apiomorpha tepperi Gullan, 1984Apiomorpha thorntoni Apiomorpha urnalis Apiomorpha variabilis Apiomorpha withersi Froggatt, 1931