First-generation galls produced by the midge fly, Taxodiomyia cupressiananassa (family Cecidomyiidae) are nearing maturity and are very apparent on baldcypress in southwest Ohio. The spongy, snow-white galls occur on baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) where heavy galling may occur year-after-year on highly susceptible trees. The literature notes that galls may also arise to a lesser degree on pond cypress (T. ascendens); however, I've never observed that in Ohio.
The gall-making fly has no approved common name by the Entomological Society of America. Online references often use the name "cypress twig gall midge" which is not accurate. The galls do not arise from "twigs;" they arise from the base of leaflets. Indeed, needles extend through the galls to protrude beyond the gall surface and a portion of new leaf growth usually extends beyond the tips of the galls.
This is an odd-ball gall. Unlike most gall-makers, this midge fly has two gall-making generations per season in Ohio. This means trees that are heavily galled now will be even more heavily infested later this season.
The galls appear white due to a covering of fine, powdery material. Rubbing the powder off reveals the gall's true light green color. Old "mature" galls become shriveled and turn purplish-brown.
Slicing open the spongy galls will reveal multiple larval chambers with each chamber containing a single tiny, midge fly larva (maggot). Early instar larvae are cream-colored but turn orangish-yellow to bright orange as they mature. The size of the gall depends on the number of maggots that are housed within.
The midge flies spend the winter as larvae inside galls on the ground that have detached from the trees in the fall. The immature flies pupate in the spring with adults emerging to fly to the newly expanding leaf buds where they lay eggs to initiate gall formation. Larvae in the resulting first-generation galls pupate within galls that remain attached to the tree. Pupae are beginning to form in these first-generation galls meaning adults will appear in around 1 – 2 weeks to initiate the second generation galls.
As with the vast majority of plant galls, cypress twig galls appear to cause no appreciable harm to the overall health of their tree hosts. However, their snow-white appearance against the dark green foliage of baldcypress makes them very noticeable. Also, the foliage extending from the tips of the galls may turn brown further reducing a tree's aesthetic appeal.
Adding to the challenge, it appears the genetics of some trees makes them very susceptible to gall formation. It's common for one baldcypress tree to be heavily galled year-after-year while nearby trees remain free of galls.
The cypress twig gall midge has several natural enemies including parasitoid wasps that target the eggs or the larvae. There are also a few predators that may feed on the larvae. Unfortunately, natural enemies appear incapable of significantly reducing galls on highly susceptible trees.
There are no effective chemical control recommendations to suppress this midge fly gall-maker. Pruning and destroying newly forming galls right now may be helpful in reducing populations on small trees. However, heavy galling indicates the tree is highly susceptible to the handiwork of the cypress twig gall midge fly. Ultimately, knees won't be the only thing that stands out on the tree.
