The Gall-Gnata 



Life History of a Gall -Gnat 



(Cecidomyia leguminicola Lint.) 



This insect, commonly known as tiie clover-seed midge, 

 occurs throughout a large part of the United States and breeds in 

 the flower heads of the common red clover. It was first noticed 

 in New York State in 1879, but has since been found in most of 

 the clover-growing regions of the country. 



The very minute, long, oval, pale yellowish eggs are pushed 

 down by the female 

 between the hairs 

 which surround the 

 seed capsule of the 

 yet undeveloped flo- 

 rets. They are gener- 

 ally deposited singly, 

 but are sometimes 

 found in clusters of 

 from two to five. Af- 

 ter young larvae hatch 

 they work their way 

 through the mouth of 

 the flower to the seed. 

 They feed upon the 

 seed, usually destroy- 

 ing it, and when full 

 grown work their 

 way out of the closed 

 florets, wriggling vio- 

 lently until they fall to 

 the ground where 

 each forms an oval, 

 compressed, rather 

 tough cocoon of fine 

 silk with particles of 

 the surrounding earth 

 adhering to the out- 

 side and rendering its detection extremely difficult. The pale 

 orange pupa remains within the cocoon about ten days, after 

 which period the adult fly emerges. 



"5 



Fig. 66. — Cecidomyia leguminicola. 

 (From United States Department Agriculture.) 



