Large Gumtree Gall - Apiomorpha variabilis
Family Eriococcidae
This page contains pictures and information about Large Gumtree Galls that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
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- Female gall, length 35mm
- This gall is very large in size. The gall is structurally complex with inner and outer capsules separated by air space.
- We believed the gall may takes years to grow to this size. We open the gall and the insect dropped onto the ground. Fire is quite common in Australia Eucalyptus forest. It is believed that the thick wall of the galls is an adaptation for fire protection.
- Body length 10mm
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Adult females are long-lived. Most live over three years as adults and some live over five years. In
contrast, adult males are inconspicuous, short-lived, and restricted seasonal occurrence. Adult males
rarely live more than a day or two after leaving their gall.
- We only found one gall on a small gumtree. We found this gall in Anstead Forest.
- Reference:
- 1. A Revision of the Gall-Forming Coccoid Genus Apiomorpha Rubsaamen (Homoptera : Eriococcidae : Apiomorphinae) - P.J. Gullan, Aust. J. Zool., Suppl. Ser., 1984, No. 97, 1-203.
- 2. Species Apiomorpha variabilis (Froggatt, 1893) - Australian Biological Resources Study, Australian Faunal Directory.
