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 Hemimetabolous life cycle, ie. When the immature nymphs resemble 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
Allocasuarina species 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 Casuarina species.

Eucalyptus species are commonly attacked especially in temperate to tropical regions; Casuarina and some Melaleuca species may also be affected.

Turf Grasses are 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 Cynodon species (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.