Prairie Coneflower Gall Midge
Asphondylia ratibidae
This record describes Asphondylia ratibidae (species). Recorded family: Cecidomyiidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
In summer the galls are in the flower heads. Infested flowers are swollen at their bases, and the florets do not open. From August to October, galls are found in enlarged stem ends or leaf buds. Adults emerging in October must lay eggs on living plant tissue, so this species probably has an early spring bud gall as well.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Diptera (Flies)
- Superfamily
- Sciaroidea
- Family
- Cecidomyiidae (Gall Midges and Wood Midges)
- Subfamily
- Cecidomyiinae
- Tribe
- Asphondyliini
- Genus
- Asphondylia (Bud gall midges)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae in flowers of Ratibida .
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Asphondylia ratibidae. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Diptera includes over 150,000 described species of flies, mosquitoes, and midges. Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on Earth (CDC). Malaria alone causes ~249 million cases and over 608,000 deaths annually, mostly children under 5 (WHO). Vector-borne diseases account for over 17% of all infectious diseases, causing 700,000+ deaths per year.
Ecological role of the group
Despite their disease impact, flies are critical decomposers and pollinators. Hoverflies alone pollinate hundreds of crop and wildflower species. Flies are also the primary food source for many birds, bats, and fish. Forensic entomology relies heavily on fly species for crime scene analysis.
Economic and practical significance of the group
In the U.S., vector-borne disease cases tripled between 2004-2016, with over 640,000 cases reported in that period (CDC). Tickborne diseases doubled from 22,000 to 48,000 annual reports. Globally, mosquito-borne diseases cost billions in healthcare and lost productivity.
Recorded sources for this group: WHO, CDC, PNAS. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Prairie Coneflower Gall Midge (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Vox Sciurorum