Holly Berry Midge

Cecidomyiidae

Asphondylia

Ilex glabra

Alabama

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Mississippi

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Virginia

Nova Scotia

Ilex opaca

Arkansas

Illinois

Indiana

Kentucky

Missouri

Ohio

Oklahoma

Pennsylvania

Tennessee

Texas

West Virginia

Ilex vomitoria

Asphondylia ilicicola

Two constant characteristics were the failure of the berries to ripen at the usual time, and the failure of the seed in the carpellary cavity to develop. Mature infested berries were often smaller than uninfested berries and were sometimes distorted. These distortions resulted in the stigma shifting 45° or more from
its normal distal position.

Life History of Asphondylia ilicicola (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a Pest of American Holly

Ovules of infested berries do not develop. Berries grow to almost normal size but remain green through winter, making the trees less desirable for ornamental purposes. The usually single larva (but occasionally two or three per berry) overwinters in the first instar...females lay eggs in the young fruit when the flower petals are still present. Hosts: *I. glabra*, *I. opaca*, *I. vomitoria*.

The plant-feeding gall midges of North America

The only sign that this midge larvae is present is green berries with an offset stigma attached to the tree in Winter. The galled berries tend to be smaller than ripe red ones or other green ones that persist throughout the Winter. 

If the berry is galled, then when cut open a single small yellow-orange midge larva will be present. 

Not all green berries in winter contain larvae.

Gallformers ID Notes