Agalla de encina, Holm oak gall

Description:

Dryomyia lichtensteinii, a mosquito of Cecidomyiidae family, causes galls on back side of holm oak leaves. Such galls look like a 3x2 mm bump, 2 mm high on back of the leaves. Usually, one leaf has several galls. When number of galls is too much, then the leaf results distorted and rolled showing just its back. There is one larva inside every gall. A secretion of the larva promotes the development of the gall. The adult is a small mosquito with long legs and hairy wings. Dryomyia lichtensteinii may infest the cork oak as well. Species of family Cecidomyiidae are known as gall mosquitoes because most of them really cause galls in plants.

Habitat:

Spotted at a Holm oak tree

Notes:

Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/40 sec. f/4.2 ISO Speed Rating: 200. Focal Length: 90.0 mm.