Juniper (Juniperus)-Juniper tip midge

Oligotrophus betheli

Pest description and damage The adult is a tiny (about 0.06 inch in length), yellow, mosquito-like fly. The larva is a maggot that lacks legs or a definite head. Juniper tip midge larvae feed within the tips of shoots, causing them to swell and form tiny green galls. After the larvae have left, the galls turn brown (sometimes reddish) and the tips die back. Symptoms of mining and exit holes are found at the junction between living and dead tissue or at the base of the swollen portion. The damage may appear very similar to that caused by fungal pathogens in the genus Phomopsis.

Management-cultural control

Remove green galls and damaged tips while larvae are still in the galls.

Management-chemical control

See Table 3 in:

For more management options

See "Gallmakers" in: