[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” module_id=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_margin=”|-500px|||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”squiggle-left” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”left” header_font_size=”22px” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”3%||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_module=”23371″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
\t\t
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font_size=”36px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Order: Diptera
Family: Cecidomyiidae<\/p>\n
Dasineura<\/span> <\/span>gleditchiae<\/span><\/span><\/em>,<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>commonly referred to as the <\/span>\u201c<\/span>honey locust pod gall midge<\/span>\u201d<\/span>,<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>is<\/span> <\/span>an<\/span> important pest of <\/span>honeylocust<\/span> in North America. <\/span>Adults are small flies that measure <\/span>1.6 mm <\/span>(1\/8 inch) in length<\/span>. Females are black with a red abdomen, while males are completely black. <\/span>Although rarely <\/span>observed<\/span>,<\/span> the<\/span> larvae <\/span>of <\/span><\/span>D. <\/span>gleditchiae<\/span><\/em> <\/span><\/span>are<\/span> pink to white<\/span> <\/span>maggots that measure about <\/span>2.5 mm<\/span> (1\/10 inch) long<\/span>, while the<\/span> <\/span>oblong pupae are orange or white <\/span>and about the same size as larvae.<\/span> <\/span>Eggs<\/span> are<\/span> yellow to red, <\/span>kidney shaped and <\/span>very small<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blurb title=”Quick Facts” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||fa||900″ icon_color=”#F15625″ image_icon_width=”36px” content_max_width=”1000px” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_level=”h3″ header_font=”|||on|||||” header_text_align=”center” header_font_size=”26px” background_color=”#FEBD3B” custom_padding=”4%|4%|4%|4%|true|true” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/agsci.colostate.edu\/agbio\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/127\/2025\/04\/Opened-gall-with-honeylocust-pod-gall-midge-1.jpg” alt=”Leaf curling caused by eriophyid mites” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” body_line_height=”1.4em” image_icon_custom_margin=”||-22px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” title_text=”Opened gall with honeylocust pod gall midge” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n An opened gall <\/span>containing<\/span> larvae of <\/span><\/span>D. <\/span>gleditchiae<\/span><\/span><\/em>. <\/span>Both larvae and pupae develop within galls. <\/span><\/span>Image credit: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/agsci.colostate.edu\/agbio\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/127\/2025\/04\/Honeylocust-pod-gall-midge-field.jpg” alt=”Leaf folding” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” body_line_height=”1.4em” image_icon_custom_margin=”||-22px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” title_text=”Honeylocust pod gall midge field” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Pod galls on <\/span>honeylocust<\/span> created by <\/span>larvae of <\/span><\/span>D. <\/span>gleditchiae<\/span><\/span><\/em>. <\/span>Galls produced by <\/span><\/span>D. <\/span>gleditchiae<\/span><\/em> <\/span><\/span>can be green, red, or brown. <\/span><\/span>Image credit: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/agsci.colostate.edu\/agbio\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/127\/2025\/04\/Galls-formed-by-honeylocust-pod-gall-midge.jpg” alt=”brown finger galls” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” body_line_height=”1.4em” image_icon_custom_margin=”||-22px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” title_text=”Galls formed by honeylocust pod gall midge” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Galls formed by <\/span><\/span>D. <\/span>gleditchiae<\/span><\/span><\/em>. Note the red appearance.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>Image credit: Gyorgy <\/span>Csoka<\/span>, Hungary Forest Research Institute, Bugwood.org<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_id=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|-500px|||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Squiggle” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”left” header_font_size=”22px” custom_padding=”||||false|false” saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n\t\t [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_font_size=”26px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n This species overwinters as pupae or adults <\/span>in <\/span>the top 2.5 cm (1 inch) <\/span>of <\/span>soil <\/span>near <\/span>honeylocust<\/span> tree<\/span>s. A<\/span>dults <\/span>emerge<\/span> the following spring during budbreak. <\/span>This pest tends to be most active from the time of first shoot growth through summer and only develops on <\/span>honeylocust<\/span>. <\/span>Eggs are laid singly or in small groups on leaflets, and newly hatched larvae begin feeding on the <\/span>succulent <\/span>young lea<\/span>ves <\/span>which <\/span>produce<\/span> gall<\/span>s<\/span>. <\/span>Larvae feed and develop <\/span>within galls<\/span> <\/span>and remain in galls to pupate<\/span>, and a<\/span>dults often pull pupal skins from galls when <\/span>emerging<\/span>.<\/span> M<\/span>ultiple generations are produced each year<\/span> and populations typically begin declining in early July.<\/span> However, in highly fertile, irrigated sites such as nurseries<\/span> where<\/span> sprout growth is produced <\/span>for extended periods,<\/span> <\/span>there may be <\/span>additional<\/span> generations of <\/span><\/span>D. <\/span>gleditchiae<\/span><\/span><\/em>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Squiggle” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”left” header_font_size=”22px” custom_padding=”||||false|false” saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n\t\t [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_font_size=”26px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Feeding <\/span>of<\/span> <\/span><\/span>D. <\/span>gleditchiae<\/span><\/em> <\/span><\/span>larvae <\/span>causes the formation of<\/span> <\/span>brown, green, or red galls on leaves<\/span>, which can diminish the aesthetic value of trees. <\/span>Heavy infestations can lead to browning of foliage, premature leaf <\/span>drop<\/span>, and dieback of leaflets and twigs. <\/span>After adults <\/span>emerge<\/span>, the vacated gall often <\/span>darkens<\/span>, <\/span>becomes <\/span>dried, and eventually falls from the tree. <\/span>All new growth can be <\/span>destroyed by infestations of <\/span><\/span>D. <\/span>gleditchiae<\/span><\/span><\/em>\n
Life history<\/h1>\n
Injury<\/h1>\n