Gall fly on teasle for Flyday
HFDF-2022-08-19!
This is the little beastie that produces Goldenrod galls — The Goldenrod Gall Fly (Eurosta solidaginis). This fly is native to North America, and is only alive for two weeks, when they mate, and then lay the next season's eggs in mid-spring, on the stems of Goldenrod plants. Eggs hatch in 7 days and the larvae starts eating. The larvae are the source of the galls that become their food source and host plant over the winter. The larvae climb up the stalk to below the plants buds and introduces a chemical that starts the gall growing. They then bore into the gall and create a chamber to live in over the long winter. Early spring songbirds are well aware of this behaviour, and search out the galls for easy meals. So when you find a gall that has been pecked into, you know that a bird has feasted on some good nutritious Gall fly larvae. A 5-image, handheld stack.
PLEASE: Do not post any comment graphics, they will be deleted. See info in my bio.
Gall fly on teasle for Flyday
HFDF-2022-08-19!
This is the little beastie that produces Goldenrod galls — The Goldenrod Gall Fly (Eurosta solidaginis). This fly is native to North America, and is only alive for two weeks, when they mate, and then lay the next season's eggs in mid-spring, on the stems of Goldenrod plants. Eggs hatch in 7 days and the larvae starts eating. The larvae are the source of the galls that become their food source and host plant over the winter. The larvae climb up the stalk to below the plants buds and introduces a chemical that starts the gall growing. They then bore into the gall and create a chamber to live in over the long winter. Early spring songbirds are well aware of this behaviour, and search out the galls for easy meals. So when you find a gall that has been pecked into, you know that a bird has feasted on some good nutritious Gall fly larvae. A 5-image, handheld stack.
PLEASE: Do not post any comment graphics, they will be deleted. See info in my bio.