Gallmakers, Family: Cecidomyiidae
This is modified from an
extension bulletin by D. G. Pfeiffer & P. B. Schultz, entitled
"Major Insect and
Mite Pests of Grape in Virginia" (Va. Coop. Ext. Serv. 444-567 (1986))
Galls of various shapes occur on grape as a
result of attack by small
gall midges. Galls occur on leaves,
tendrils, blossom buds and in the rachis,
and
can occasionally cause considerable injury. Galls on the leaf blade may
occur in clusters, and contain a single ornage maggot each. Other
galls, in the rachis for example, may contain a network of
tunnels. Numerous species of gall
midges attack grape. The main species if the grape tumid gallmaker, Janetiella brevicauda, formerly called tomato gall,
and also formerly thought to be a complex of several species. No
practical control for these
galls is known. Pesticide applications during adult activity can reduce
populations, and would best be timed by the earliest appearance of
galls. Removing the galls by hand and destroying them would
inhibit future populations.
See New York Fact
sheet
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