Ceticecis capsularis (Patton)

Cecidomyiaceltis capsularis
Cecidomyia capsularis
Phytophaga painteri New synonym

Hosts: Celtis laevigata, occidentalis, tenuifolia, reticulata

Gall.--On leaf lamina on underside of leaf; depressed, circular, the sides conspicuously sulcate with 10 or more furrows, broadest at mid-length, apex with central spine; green, turning brown, granular, moderately longhaired but hairs not obscuring surface; ca. 2 mm high and 3–4 mm broad; connection to leaf conical, fitting into slight depression of leaf, a slight brown convexity apparent on reverse side of leaf; wall thick laterally, thin apically; larval chamber ovoid, extending the length of gall, lined with brittle tissue distinct from remainder of gall.

Affinities.--See under C spiniformis [C spiniformis entry: Affinities. — Nine species of Celticecis appear to form a natural group: C. spiniformis, C. aciculata, C. acuminata, C. capsularis, C. conica, C. cupiformis, C. pilosa, C. subulata, and C. supina. All form galls on the leaf lamina except for C. supina whose galls are attached to veins, usually minor ones.]

Biological notes.--The gall grows lengthwise first, then laterally, developing the separate lobes as it expands. Full grown larvae are yellow and fill the entire cavity. In Alexandria, Louisiana galls with second instars were found in late March on newly expanded leaves and also later in the season. In Fort Pierce, Florida, fully-formed galls were found in early April. By mid-May some galls have fully-developed larvae. Galls with cocooned larvae may dehisce any time during the summer but many remain attached to the leaves through autumn. In spring pupae break through a circular opening that develops just below the apical spine.

Distr.-- This is a southeastern U.S. species taken on all hackberries within its range.

AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, TN, TX

- Raymond J. Gagne, John C. Moser: (2013) The North American Gall Midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) of Hackberries (Cannabaceae: Celtis spp.)^©

Reference: https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51467028#page/22/mode/1up