Gall midge (gall midge)

Japanese: タマバエ(玉蠅) - タマバエ（英語表記）gall midge

A general term for insects of the Diptera family Cecidomyiidae. Closely related to the Mycetophaga family. Over 4,000 species in 530 genera are known from around the world, and about 200 species are known from Japan. Most of the adults appear in early spring to early summer, but some saprophytic species can also be seen in autumn and winter. They are 1-8 mm long and look like mosquitoes. Their bodies are covered with fine dark brown powder, but the base color is often red or dark red. They have simple wing veins and long, beaded antennae. Cecidomyiidae means flies that produce galls. The host plants of the larvae range from higher plants to all kinds, but there are many species that use Artemisia, Beech, and Salix as hosts, and they usually produce galls of unique shapes in specific parts of specific plants.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

双翅目タマバエ科Cecidomyiidaeの昆虫の総称。キノコバエ科に近縁。世界から約530属4000種以上，日本からは約200種が知られている。多くは早春～初夏に成虫が出現するが，腐食性の種は秋～冬にも見られる。体長1～8mm，外観はカに似る。体は暗褐色の微粉で覆われるが，その地色は赤色ないし暗赤色のものが多い。翅脈は単純で数珠状の長い触角を有する。タマバエは虫こぶをつくるハエの意。幼虫の寄主植物は高等植物全般にわたるが，ヨモギ属，ブナ属，ヤナギ属などを寄主とする種がとくに多く，通常特定の植物の特定の部位に特異な形状の虫こぶをつくる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

<<: Bullfinch (Tamabachi) - Bullfinch

>>: Ball riding - Tamanori