A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Apiomorpha conica
Like a miniature zucchini, this green stem gall was about 10mm long. The upper free end was closed with a conical "plug". Pic #5 taken four months later shows a slightly thickened gall base and an apical opening.
Eucalyptus tree
The branch on which this gall was spotted was devoid of leaves. When this tree was revisited four months later ( Feb 2013), there were fewer leaves on the tree and it looked a lot drier with little rain since July 2012. However, the gall remained as green and the base had showed a slight but perceptible thickening. The gall was also now open. My thanks to PenelopeMills2 for assistance with the ID. The last two photos were added on 8 Feb 13. Will re-visit in a few months.
Spotted on Oct 20, 2012
Submitted on Oct 20, 2012
3 Comments
Martin, you were right. I visited this tree yesterday and noticed that the gall had enlarged slightly ( pic #4) and there was now an apical hole. Will keep an eye on this one - very slow indeed !
Martin, I did wonder if it was a female that was going to fatten-up especially because the gall's free end was closed. But knowing so little about these galls, I assumed that its present tubular shape must mean that it's a male gall. Must return to have a look at it again after a month perhaps, as you suggest - thanks.
It seems to me that females may look like this too, and only fatten out when she is mature. There is a lot to learn and nobody teaching, i'm afraid. I suggest you watch it a few months.