A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Apiomorpha munita (ssp.)
A gall bug (Hemiptera) induces the plant to grow this four-winged leafy clump containing the insect safely inside. The second smaller gall is a separate spotting found in Coldstream. It has four wings but smaller, I guess it is a younger specimen.
Similar one found here ; http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_... http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/819...
Spotted on Feb 24, 2012
Submitted on Feb 26, 2012
5 Comments
This appears to be one of the three subspecies of A. munita according to entomology.ucdavis.edu/gullanandcranstonlab/.../70Gullan_etal2005_B.pdf another is shown here http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_...
Martin, you're more knowledgeable about these things. Have a look at this document about galls - hope this helps
entomology.ucdavis.edu/gullanandcranstonlab/.../70Gullan_etal2005_B.pdf
I've added a second spotting that maybe a younger specimen or possibly a different species???
Every cell in the plant branch has DNA that can produce leaves. For example a leaf bud grows from branch tissue. I believe the eriococcid bug has produced a chemical that stimulates leaf growth from its gall. The "leaves" are only partially accurate. Is this beneficial? Is this coincidental? Most galls don't do this. This is my guess.
Interesting one. Do you think these are modified leaves or are they produced from a stem and just look like leaves?