Rabdophaga degeerii


Rabdophaga degeerii is a gall midge which forms galls on the shoots of willows.

Description

The gall can be a smooth, globular or a spindle-shaped swelling on a shoot. The gall chamber is in the pith and contains pale orange larvae or pupae in separate chambers. Correct identification of the host species is important, as the gall of R. degeerii is similar to R. salicis. In Britain the gall on purple willow is recorded as R. degeerii. Elsewhere the gall has been found on S. daphnoides and S. elaeagnos.

Distribution

The insect or gall has been found in Denmark, France and Great Britain.