PEST

NAME
Coccid Galls
Various Coccid Gall Species

ORDER
Hemiptera

FAMILY
Coccidae

Description of the Pest
Small, sap-sucking insects related to mealy bugs and scale. The feeding of the pale, pinkish-white larvae stimulates the host plant to produce a gall, in which the larvae continue to feed and mature. Different species may have characteristic-shaped galls, and male and females may produce different shaped galls. The adult male emerges as a small fly from the gall via a small tunnel; the female matures and dies without leaving the gall.
These insects have a Hemimetabolouslife cycle, ie. When the immature nymphsresemble the adults.

Acorn Gall(Apiomorpha conica)female produces a smooth, roughly oval-shaped gall on the twigs and the smaller horn-shaped galls of the males appear on the leaves.

     Acorn Gall, Male

Four Horned Gall(Apiomorpha munita) female produces a roughly four-sided, four horned gall and the male galls appears in horn-like clusters along the twigs.

Appearance of the Pest
Rounded, cylindrical or horned, woody galls appear singly or in clusters on the leaves and twigs.

     Galls on Eucalyptus

Period of Activity
Galls may appear all year round.

Susceptible Plants
Allocasuarinaspecies are susceptible to the Casuarina Gall(Cylindrococcus species) which contains a single small pinkish sap sucking insect that forms galls with overlapping scales up to 15mm long with an acuminate apex. The galls are very simular looking to the capsules of the plant. This pest may also be found on Casuarinaspecies.

Eucalyptusspecies are commonly attacked especially in temperate to tropical regions; Casuarinaand some Melaleucaspecies may also be affected.



Turf Grassesare attacked by the Felted Grass Coccid(Antonina graminis). It is also known as the Leaf Mite or Grass-crown Mealybug and forms a small whitish sherical body that has a dark spot (eye) and when crushed releases a purplish fluid.
It is commonly found on Cynodonspecies (Couch), Pennisetum clandestinum(Kikuyu), Stenotaphrum secundatum (Buffalo) and Digitaria didactyla(Blue Couch).

Damage Caused
The appearance is unusual but not unsightly. No damage is usually caused.

Control
Not usually required.