Boxelder Gall Midge
Contarinia negundinis
This record describes Contarinia negundinis (species). Recorded family: Cecidomyiidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
Causes folded or swollen leaflets or swollen leaf buds in boxelder ( Acer negundo ), in early spring when the leaves are still expanding. Larvae are white and gregarious (many in each gall). They develop very quickly, then drop to the ground and spin cocoons. They pupate in the fall, emerging as adults in early spring.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Diptera (Flies)
- Superfamily
- Sciaroidea
- Family
- Cecidomyiidae (Gall Midges and Wood Midges)
- Subfamily
- Cecidomyiinae
- Tribe
- Cecidomyiini
- Genus
- Contarinia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Virginia, the Lake State, and the Prairie Provinces of Canada
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Contarinia negundinis. 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 Boxelder Gall Midge (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Marci Hess