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Project Noah Nature School
Apiomorpha conica
This stem gall produced by a hemipteran coccid bug is a female with male gall forming bugs attached to her gall. The males emerge as tiny winged creatures but she will remain in her capsule for some years.
Several are growing on a eucalyptus tree in a suburban park.
Attachment methods vary but are usually on nearby leaves or stems. Possibly an acorn gall, Eriococcidae. Apiomorpha conica. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/819...
Spotted on Mar 23, 2013
Submitted on Mar 24, 2013
4 Comments
Thanks you for your confirmation. There are many galls of this kind in this park and several have had attack by parasitoid such as this one. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/139...
I agree that it is probably Apiomorpha conica. The small pointed cap on a flat abscission zone is fairly characteristic. Looks like the female died prematurely because the gall has senesced before fully developing.
Thanks shekainah.
What a creature. Amazing!