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Adult female found inside gall of Apiomorpha munita Larvae approx 12 mm long //Corection: That is apearantly not a larvae but an adult female. <br />
Identification assistance by INaturalist.<br />
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Apiomorpha is a genus of scale insect that induces galls on species of Eucalyptus. Galls are initiated by first-instar nymphs (crawlers) on new plant growth and, when mature, the galls exhibit marked sexual dimorphism. Those induced by females are among the largest and most spectacular of arthropod-induced galls whereas those of males are small and most are tubular.[1] Apiomorpha is known only from Australia and New Guinea although its host, Eucalyptus, has a wider distribution into Indonesia as well.<br />
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Apiomorpha is currently classified in the Eriococcidae,[2] but this family is not monophyletic.[3]<br />
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Morphology[edit]<br />
<br />
Adult female of Apiomorpha alongside a winged adult male on a pin<br />
Like other scale insects, Apiomorpha is highly sexually dimorphic.[1] Adult females are wingless, have very small (or no) eyes, and their legs are short and stubby. A female remains within the gall she initiated when a crawler, mating through the small apical opening of her gall. She reproduces inside the gall and her tiny offspring (&le; 0.4 mm) escape through the same small opening. Adult females of Apiomorpha can range in length from 2 mm to 45 mm, depending on species, and can live up to five years as adults.[4] In contrast, adult males of Apiomorpha are small (about 1 mm in length) and winged. Like males of other eriococcids, they do not have a mouth and, instead, have an extra pair of eyes on the underside of their head (i.e., they have four eyes, two on top and two underneath). Males leave their galls as adults and search for females. They are weak fliers and typically walk on their host plant looking for females before taking to the air. After leaving their gall, adult males only live about one day.[4]<br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apiomorpha" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apiomorpha</a> Apiomorpha munita,Australia,Eamw galls,Geotagged,Winter Click/tap to enlarge Promoted

Adult female found inside gall of Apiomorpha munita

Larvae approx 12 mm long //Corection: That is apearantly not a larvae but an adult female.
Identification assistance by INaturalist.

Apiomorpha is a genus of scale insect that induces galls on species of Eucalyptus. Galls are initiated by first-instar nymphs (crawlers) on new plant growth and, when mature, the galls exhibit marked sexual dimorphism. Those induced by females are among the largest and most spectacular of arthropod-induced galls whereas those of males are small and most are tubular.[1] Apiomorpha is known only from Australia and New Guinea although its host, Eucalyptus, has a wider distribution into Indonesia as well.

Apiomorpha is currently classified in the Eriococcidae,[2] but this family is not monophyletic.[3]

Morphology[edit]

Adult female of Apiomorpha alongside a winged adult male on a pin
Like other scale insects, Apiomorpha is highly sexually dimorphic.[1] Adult females are wingless, have very small (or no) eyes, and their legs are short and stubby. A female remains within the gall she initiated when a crawler, mating through the small apical opening of her gall. She reproduces inside the gall and her tiny offspring (≤ 0.4 mm) escape through the same small opening. Adult females of Apiomorpha can range in length from 2 mm to 45 mm, depending on species, and can live up to five years as adults.[4] In contrast, adult males of Apiomorpha are small (about 1 mm in length) and winged. Like males of other eriococcids, they do not have a mouth and, instead, have an extra pair of eyes on the underside of their head (i.e., they have four eyes, two on top and two underneath). Males leave their galls as adults and search for females. They are weak fliers and typically walk on their host plant looking for females before taking to the air. After leaving their gall, adult males only live about one day.[4]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apiomorpha

    comments (9)

  1. Woow! very nice! I think I've never seen the larvae from the galls! Posted 3 years ago
    1. Thanks Martha. It is a real chubby larvae, doesn’t move much and is covered in chalk or flower like powder. Posted 3 years ago
  2. So cool! Was it difficult to cut into the gall? They look so tough. Posted 3 years ago
    1. Thanks Christine. I accidentally killed 3 in the process of getting one out. I used Stanley knife blades, a sharp kitchen knife, a metal cutting saw and the last thing was rubbing the gall on sand paper until there was only a membrane left which I carefully removed. The larvae was rather motionless and covered in a white powder. There was a minute opening leading out of the base of the gall and the tail end of the larvae was positioned right there. This was obviously to get rid of body wast. Posted 3 years ago
      1. Wow, that's quite a process! Some galls are so hard that I can barely get my knife blade into the hard part, nevermind being able to cut through. Posted 3 years ago
        1. That is why I had to try to many different tools. Posted 3 years ago
          1. I am shocked by your update that this is the adult female! Wow! Posted 3 years ago
  3. Awesome work! Posted 3 years ago
    1. Thank you Ferdy. Posted 3 years ago

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Apiomorpha munita is an Australian scale insect which forms woody galls on various eucalyptus species. Some are quite spectacular shapes and A munita is known for galls with horns or blades.

Similar species: True Bugs
Species identified by Ernst
View Ernst's profile

By Ernst

All rights reserved
Uploaded Aug 18, 2022. Captured Aug 18, 2022 12:18 in 1A Nicolas Baudin Dr, Encounter Bay SA 5211, Australia.
  • Canon EOS 700D
  • f/13.0
  • 1/166s
  • ISO400
  • 84mm