Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How do gall midge larvae change the tissues of plants?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Diptera
An adult housefly (Musca domestica) on a doughnut
Gall midge larvae alter plant tissues by inducing the formation of swellings known as galls.1
When a female gall midge deposits an egg into plant tissue, the resulting larva produces specific substances upon hatching. These substances trigger the plant tissue to proliferate and grow around the feeding larva, creating a protective structure that is typically characteristic of the specific insect species. These larvae generally inhabit the leaves and flowers of the host plant, where they feed and develop within these induced growths.21