Stem Gall Midge

Cecidomyiidae

Lasioptera

Ephedra californica

Ephedra nevadensis

Ephedra trifurca

Lasioptera ephedricola

L. ephedricola 

Gall a resinous, elongate, lateral, brown swelling on the twigs of Ephedra trijurca.

The Identity of the Better Known Midge Galls

Irregular, resinous stem swelling ... *Lasioptera ephedricola* Cockerell and *Neolasioptera* sp.

*L. ephedricola*. Swellings are rugose, usually darker than the normal stem. 1-3 cm long, and usually polythalamous. Occasionally a gall with only one larva inside will not show a conspicuous swelling. Larvae live in fungus-lined tunnels, the fungus turning black when mature.... Hosts: *E. californica*, *E. nevadensis*, *E. trifurca*.
...
*Neolasioptera* sp. A few specimens of an unidentified species were reared with *L. ephedricola* from galls on *Ephedra* sp. in Arizona. 

The plant-feeding gall midges of North America

Stem Gall Midge
Lasioptera ephedricola

This midge induces wrinkled or furrowed integral stem galls on desert teas. Galls are normally darker green than the rest of the stems when fresh and appear like dead tissue with age. 

Host:
Ephedra californica
Ephedra nevadensis
Ephedra trifurca