Piñon spindle gall midge

[PiñonJ]

I pulled this gall off of my collected piñon today, pulled it apart and researched it. It is caused by the larvae of the piñon spindle gall midge (Pinyonia edulicola). Apparently, at this time of year, these are pupae. The adults are also orange in color. These galls are common, but sparse, so they don't seem to do much harm to the trees. The newly-hatched larvae crawl into the space between the two needles at the base of the fascicles and a spindle-shaped gall forms, purple in color. Just thought it was interesting to investigate. The article I read said that gall midges have evolved with several genera of pine.

 

[aml1014]

I've done research on them as well and it's definitely interestimg, I've noticed them on pinions at my work and I just do exactly what you did here to kill them.

Aaron

 

[PiñonJ]

The article I read said that gall midges have evolved with several genera of pine.

Sorry - make that "species."

 

[Potawatomi13]

Although have never had a Pinion this is very interesting and good to know.