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Apiomorpha pileata
This strange green gall has appeared among the new flower buds on a common species of eucalyptus. About 25mm long.
Langwarring Flora & Fauna Park.. possibly on E.viminalis
This all looks very fresh so it might yet change shape and colour. I haven't seen the usual species of Apiomorpha working in a flower head like this. Males usually build on leaves and females usually on free stems.
?No obvious match on Lyn Cook's list... http://www.lyncook.org/Lyn_Cook/Apiomorp... - Apiomorpha sloanei seems closest
"Gall-inducing insects are relatively host-specific compared with their non-galling relatives. In Australia, there have been at least four origins of gall induction among eriococcid scale insects, with the most species-rich genus, Apiomorpha, inducing galls only on species of Eucalyptus. " - http://www.publish.csiro.au/is/is15039
Apparently these have now been identified as A.pileata by Penelope Mills check them here http://www.lyncook.org/Lyn_Cook/Apiomorp...
Spotted on Jul 5, 2018
Submitted on Sep 17, 2019
1 Comment
How weird is that? Great spotting Mark.