Phylloxera gall

Description:

Phylloxera are small (up to 3/32 inch long) insects with yellowish-tan bodies. The head is dark, and there is a dark band across the thorax. The transparent, gray wings are held flat above the back. When mature, the phylloxera lay eggs inside galls from which hatch more phylloxera. The gall ultimately becomes filled with these insects as they grow. Finally, the galls split open and the phylloxera emerge to lay eggs on the leaves. From these eggs hatch male and female phylloxera which mature and then mate. Phylloxera gall eggs are very tiny and yellow or greenish. Phylloxera galls on hickory and pecan are usually large (up to 5/8 inch) and spherical, somewhat flattened or irregular in shape. The galls are hollow and are green outside and white inside. As the galls dry out, they darken and split open. Phylloxera galls are not found on every tree, and some years these galls are rarely seen. On the other hand, occasionally certain trees may have numerous galls on just about every leaf. Various species of hickory and pecan (pecan is actually a species of hickory) are susceptible to phylloxera galls. Damage caused by phylloxera is primarily aesthetic.

Habitat:

Seen at Mason Farm Biological Preserve