Insects and Other Arthropods That Make Galls

Insects and Other Arthropods That Make Galls Have you ever noticed unusual lumps, spheres, or masses on trees or other plants? These strange formations are called galls. Galls come in many sizes and shapes. Some galls look and feel like pompoms, while others are hard as rocks. Galls may occur on every part of plants, from the leaves to the roots. What Are Galls? Galls are abnormal growths of plant tissue trigger in response to an injury to or an irritation of the plant, usually (but not always) caused by some living organism. Nematodes, bacteria, fungi, and viruses can all cause the formation of galls on trees, shrubs, and other plants. Most galls, however, result from insect or mite activity. Gallmaking insects or mites initiate gall formation by feeding on a plant, or by laying eggs on plant tissues. The insects or mites interact with the plant during a period of rapid growth, such as when leaves are opening. Scientists believe that gallmakers secrete chemicals that regulate or stimulate plant growth. These secretions cause rapid cell multiplication in the affected area of the meristematic tissue. Galls can only form on growing tissue. Most gallmaking activity occurs in the spring or early summer. Galls serve several important purposes for the gallmaker. The developing insect or mite resides within the gall, where it is sheltered from the weather and from predators. The young insect or mite also feeds on the gall. Eventually, the mature insect or mite emerges from the gall. After the gallmaking insect or mite leaves, the gall remains behind on the host plant. Other insects, such as beetles or caterpillars, may move into the gall for shelter or to feed. Which Insects Make Galls? Insects that make galls include certain kinds of wasps, beetles, aphids, and flies. Other arthropods, like mites, can cause gall formations, too. Each gallmaker produces its own unique gall, and you can often tell which kind of insect made the gall by its shape, texture, size, and host plant. Psyllids  -  Some jumping plant lice, or psyllids, produce galls. If you find galls on hackberry leaves, theres a good chance it was caused by a psyllid. They feed in spring, triggering the formation of two well-known leaf galls: hackberry nipple galls, and hackberry blister galls.Gallmaking aphids  -  Aphids  belonging to the subfamily Eriosomatinae cause gall formations on the stems and petioles of certain trees, most notably cottonwood and poplar. Aphid galls vary in shape, from a cockscomb-shaped growth on elm leaves to a cone-shaped gall that forms on witch hazel.Gallmaking adelgids  -  Gallmaking adelgids target conifers, for the most part. One common species,  Adelges abietis, causes pineapple-shaped galls on Norway and white spruce twigs, as well as on Douglas fir. Another, the Cooley spruce gall adelgid, makes galls that look like cones on Colorado blue spruce and white spruce.Phylloxerans  -  Phylloxerans (family Phylloxeridae), though tiny, do their sha re of gallmaking, too. The most notorious of the group is the grape phylloxera, which produces galls on both the roots and leaves of grape plants. In 1860, this North American insect was accidentally introduced into France, where it nearly destroyed the wine industry. French vineyards had to graft their grape vines onto phylloxera-resistant rootstock from the U.S. to save their industry. Gall wasps  -  Gall wasps, or cynipid wasps, comprise the largest group of gallmaking insects, with over 1,000 species known globally. Cynipid wasps produce most of the galls on oak trees and plants within the rose family. Some gall wasps oviposit in galls created by other species, rather than induce the growth of their own. Cynipid wasps sometimes develop within galls that have fallen from the host plant.  Jumping oak galls  are so named because they roll and bounce around the forest floor as the larva inside moves.Gall midges  -  Gall midges or gall gnats make up the second largest group of gallmaking insects. These true flies belong to the family Cecidomyiidae, and are quite tiny, measuring 1-5 mm in length. The maggots, which develop within the gall, come in strangely bright colors like orange and pink. Midge galls form on various parts of plants, from the leaves to the roots. Common galls formed by gall midges include the pinecone willow gall and the maple leaf spot. Gall flies  -  Some genera of fruit flies produce stem galls.  Eurosta  gall flies develop and overwinter within goldenrod galls. Some  Urophora  gall flies were introduced into North America from their native Europe, as biocontrols for invasive plants like knapweed and bull thistle. Gallmaking sawflies  -  Sawflies produce some unusual galls, most commonly on willows and poplars. The leaf galls induced by  Phyllocolpa  sawflies look like someone crimped or folded the leaves. The sawfly larva feeds within the crinkled leaf.  Pontania  sawflies produce strange, globular galls that protrude through both sides of a willow leaf. Some  Euura  sawflies cause petiole swelling in willows.Gallmaking moths  -  A few moths make galls, too. Some micromoths in the genus  Gnorimoschema  induce stem galls in goldenrod, where the larvae pupate. The midrib gall moth produces an odd leaf formation in buckthorn. The center of the leaf is rolled tight, with the sides joining to form a pouch in which the larva resides.Beetles and weevils  -  A handful of metallic wood-boring beetles (Buprestridae) are known to produce galls in their host plants.  Agrilus ruficollis  induces galls in blackberries.  Ruficollis  translates to redneck, a specific name that refers to this insects red  pronotum. Another species,  Agrilus champlaini, creates galls in Ironwood. Long-horned beetles of the genus  Saperda  also produce galls, in stems and twigs of alder, hawthorn, and poplar. A few weevils also cause swellings in their host plants tissues.  Podapion gallicola, for example, causes galls in pine twigs. Gall mites  -  Gall mites of the family Eriophyidae produce unusual galls on leaves and flowers. The mites begin feeding on their host plants just as buds are opening in the spring. Eriophyid galls may form as finger-like projections or warty bumps on leaves. Some gall mites produce a velvety discoloration of the leaves. Will Galls Damage My Plants? Insect enthusiasts and naturalists probably find insect galls interesting or even beautiful. Gardeners and landscapers, though, may be less enthused to discover insect galls on trees and shrubs and may be concerned about insect gall damage. Fortunately, with few exceptions, insects galls do not damage trees and shrubs. While they may look unsightly, particularly on specimen trees, most healthy, well-established trees and shrubs will be unaffected by galls in the long run. Heavy gall formations may slow growth. Because the negative impact of galls on plants is largely aesthetic, control measures for galls or  gallmaking insects  are rarely warranted. Leaf galls will fall off, either with the leaves themselves or from the leaves once the insect or mite has emerged. Galls on twigs and branches can be pruned out. A gall that has already formed cannot be treated or sprayed to eliminate it. The gall is part of the plant itself. Gallmaking insects, it should be noted, will attract their own biological controls in the form of  parasitoids  and predators. If your landscape is riddled with galls this year, give it time. Nature will restore the balance in your ecosystem.

GPA, SAT and ACT Data for Top Virginia Colleges

GPA, SAT and ACT Data for Top Virginia Colleges From tiny liberal arts colleges to large state universities, Virginia has some excellent options for higher education. Nearly all of the states best schools have holistic admissions, so the admissions folks will be looking for more than good grades and standardized test scores. Challenging high school courses, a well written essay, interesting extracurricular activities and positive letters of recommendation are all important pieces of the admissions equation. That said, the empirical part of your application is still remarkably important. To see if you numbers are in line for Virginias top colleges and universities, follow the links below for college profiles and graphs of GPA, SAT and ACT data for accepted, waitlisted, and rejected students: Christopher Newport University Located in Newport News, a city in southeastern Virginia, CNU is a small public university with a wide range of academic strengths. Christopher Newport University ProfileGPA, SAT Score and ACT Score Graph for CNU Admissions College of William Mary One of the best public universities in the country, the College of William Mary has highly selective admissions. Its attractive campus is located in Williamsburg, Virginia. College of William Mary ProfileGPA, SAT Score and ACT Score Graph for William Mary Admissions George Mason University Established in 1957, George Mason is a large public university with a main campus in Fairfax, Virginia. The schools NCAA Division I athletic teams compete in the  Atlantic 10 Conference.  The university has been expanding rapidly with both online and traditional learning opportunities. George Mason University ProfileGPA, SAT Score and ACT Score Graph for George Mason Hampden-Sydney College One of the oldest colleges in the United States, Hampden-Sydney College is located in rural central Virginia on an attractive 1340-acre campus. Hampden-Sydney is one of the few all-male colleges in the country. Hampden-Sydney College ProfileGPA, SAT Score and ACT Score Graph for Hampden-Sydney Admissions Hollins University Located in Roanoke, Virginia, Hollins College is a private liberal arts college for women. The schools programs in English and Creative Writing are particularly strong, and overall strengths in the liberal arts and sciences earned Hollins a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Hollins College ProfileGPA, SAT Score and ACT Score Graph for Hollins Admissions James Madison University A relatively large public university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, JMU features an attractive campus and NCAA Division I athletic programs that compete in the Colonial Athletic Association. Academic programs in business fields are particularly popular with undergraduates. James Madison University ProfileGPA, SAT Score and ACT Score Graph for JMU Admissions Longwood University Located in Farmville, Virginia, Longwood is a small public university that emphasizes hands-on learning experiences. The Longwood Lancers compete in the NCAA Division I Big South Conference. Longwood University ProfileGPA, SAT Score and ACT Score Graph for Longwood Admissions Randolph College Randolph is a very small private liberal arts college located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Students who enjoy personal attention will appreciate the schools 9  to 1 student / faculty ratio and small class size. Biology, business, creative writing, and history are all popular fields of study. Randolph College ProfileGPA, SAT Score and ACT Score Graph for Randolph College Randolph-Macon College Located in Ashland, Virginia, Randolph-Macon is a small private liberal arts college with an attractive red-brick campus. Small class sizes and an 12  to 1 student / faculty ratio mean lots of personal attention from the faculty. Biology, communications, and economics are among the most popular majors. Randolph-Macon College ProfileGPA, SAT Score and ACT Score Graph for Randolph-Macon Admissions Roanoke College Roanoke College is a private liberal arts college located in Salem, Virginia, not far from Roanoke. The colleges strengths in the liberal arts and sciences earned it a chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. Roanoke College ProfileGPA, SAT Score and ACT Score Graph for Roanoke College Admissions Sweet Briar College Sweet Briar College sits on a huge campus in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The school has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa in recognition of its strong programs in the liberal arts and sciences, and Sweet Briar also made my list of top equestrian colleges. Sweet Briar College ProfileGPA, SAT Score and ACT Score Graph for Sweet Briar Admissions University of Mary Washington As a public liberal arts college, the University of Mary Washington provides the personal attention of a small college along with the value of a public institution.   University of Mary Washington ProfileGPA, SAT Score and ACT Score Graph for Mary Washington Admissions University of Richmond The University of Richmonds attractive campus  sits just six miles from downtown Richmond. The university features an impressive 8 to 1 student / faculty ratio and small classes. The Richmond Spiders compete in the NCAA Division I Atlantic 10 Conference. University of Richmond ProfileGPA, SAT Score and ACT Score Graph for the University of Richmond Admissions University of Virginia UVA is one of the top public universities in the country. The highly selective university has an endowment of over 7 billion dollars and takes pride in its beautiful and historic campus.   University of Virginia ProfileGPA, SAT Score and ACT Score Graph for UVA Admissions Virginia Military Institute VMI is one of the six senior military colleges in the United States. The school has selective admissions and competes in the NCAA Division I Southern Conference.   Virginia Military Institute ProfileGPA, SAT Score and ACT Score Graph for VMI Admissions Virginia Tech Virginia Techs many strengths earned it a place on my lists of top engineering schools and top public universities. The Hokies compete in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference. Virginia Tech ProfileGPA, SAT Score and ACT Score Graph for Virginia Tech Admissions Washington and Lee University Located in Lexington, Virginia, Washington and Lee made my lists of top southeastern colleges and best liberal arts colleges. The school has highly selective admissions - to get in, youll need grades and test scores that are well above average. Washington and Lee University ProfileGPA, SAT Scores and ACT Score Graph for Washington and Lee Admissions