Cypress Twig Gall Midge: Identifying Characteristics
Identifying the injury:
Galls, globose to elongated in shape (up to > 3 cm long x 2 cm in width) are present by early summer on leaflets and are whitish in color. In fall the affected leaves often turn brown earlier than unaffected foliage and the galls become brown as well. This makes affected trees unsightly.
Identifying the insect:
Adults are tiny flies (about 1.5-2 mm long) with clear wings. Eggs are orange, translucent and there are usually 15 eggs per cluster. Larvae are orange-red and pupae are bright orange with wings appressed to the body.
Susceptible trees:
The cypress twig gall midge affects bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), pond cypress (T. ascendens) and Montezuma cypress (T. mucronatum).