Mass effect black blob series#

The gall increases in size as long as the immature stages are active. Willow shoot galls: these swellings on shoots, twigs, or leaf petioles, may be caused by small flies (midges) or small wasps (sawflies).Usually, there is one generation each year and the insects over winter on the tree in the egg stage. The hard, woody galls may remain on the tree for several years. Many of these are caused by insects called phylloxerans which are very similar to aphids. Petiole and stipule galls: thick globe-like galls can develop on leaf petioles and stems.As a result, the natural shape of the tree may be lost. New shoots develop at the base of dead twigs.

Infested leaves often drop prematurely and repeated damage can kill small branches. There are five or more generations each year. Infestations begin when females lay eggs in young leaflets. Infested leaves have globular or pod-like distortions that contain one to several small maggots ( 5В mm or 1вЃ„ 4В in long). The sunburst cultivar appears to be very susceptible to this pest.

Honeylocust pod gall: this gall is caused by a small fly (midge).

Mass effect black blob series#

Heavy infestations can result in premature leaf drop which over a series of years may affect tree health. The psyllids remain inside the galIs until they emerge as adults in late summer to early fall. Feeding by the nymphs that hatch from these eggs causes abnormal plant growth that forms a pouch. Females lay eggs over a long period of time beginning when leaves begin to unfold from the buds in the spring. The adults spend the winter under bark crevices and can invade houses in large numbers in the fall.

Hackberry leaf gall: this gall is caused by a small ( 2.5В mm or 1вЃ„ 10В in long) aphid-like insect with sucking mouthparts called a jumping plant louse.

The galls apparently do not cause significant harm to the tree. This insect has a complex life cycle-it forms galls on elm in early summer, then feeds on grass roots later in the summer. Aphids may be seen through a slit-like opening in the underside of the gall. The galls dry, harden and turn brown as they age. The irregular edge of the gall and its red color at maturity account for the common name.

Elm cockscomb gall: these distinct galls, caused by an aphid, are about 25В mm (1В in) long and about 5В mm ( 1вЃ„ 4В in) high.

The galls probably do not harm tree health. Specifics of the biology of this insect are not known. Gall formation begins soon after the eggs are laid. Female midges lay their eggs in very young leaflets during early spring.

A small cavity within each gall contains one or more small maggots, the larval stages of very small flies called midges. Ash midrib gall: normally 15вЂ“25В mm ( 1вЃ„ 2вЂ“1В in) long, these galls are succulent and have thick walls.The galls are initially green, then dry and turn brown. Ash flower gall: this gall is caused by a small mite that causes irregular distortion of male flowers.Galls produced by insects and mites include: Gall-inducing insects include gall wasps, gall midges, gall flies (e.g., the goldenrod gall fly), Agromyzidae, aphids (such as Melaphis chinensis, Pemphigus spyrothecae, and Pemphigus betae), scale insects, psyllids, thrips, gall moths (e.g., Epiblema scudderiana), and weevils. Goldenrod round gall made by the fly Eurosta solidaginis Gall-inducing insects are usually species-specific and sometimes tissue-specific on the plants they gall. The meristems, where plant cell division occurs, are the usual sites of galls, though insect galls can be found on other parts of the plant, such as the leaves, stalks, branches, buds, roots, and even flowers and fruits. In order to form galls, the insects must take advantage of the time when plant cell division occurs quickly: the growing season, usually spring in temperate climates, but which is extended in the tropics. After the galls are formed, the larvae develop inside until fully grown, when they leave. Insect galls are usually induced by chemicals injected by the larvae of the insects into the plants, and possibly mechanical damage. Galls may also provide the insect with physical protection from predators. Some galls act as 'physiologic sinks', concentrating resources in the gall from the surrounding plant parts. The interior of a gall can contain edible nutritious starch and other tissues. Galls act as both the habitat and food source for the maker of the gall. They are plant tissue which is controlled by the insect. Insect galls are the highly distinctive plant structures formed by some herbivorous insects as their own microhabitats. Sectioned oak marble gall showing central 'cell', inquiline chamber, and exit-hole with a possibly parasitised stunted gall specimen.