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Post by NellyDee on Jul 26, 2015 9:09:53 GMT
Wondering what has caused the top of this frond to curl u IMG_4872 by Wabi Gallery, on Flickr
p, do ferns get galls? or has some sort of insect done this? |
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Post by aeshna5 on Jul 26, 2015 11:32:54 GMT
It is a gall + many galls are caused by insects. Looking in my gall book this looks like it could be from a small grey fly called Chirosia betuleti, which apparently resembles a small house fly. Eggs are laid in the tip of the frond + as the larvae tunnelo into the main stalk causing it to twist + the pinnae (the leaflets) become distorted as in your photo.
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Post by John Pappus on Jul 26, 2015 13:48:08 GMT
It is a gall + many galls are caused by insects. Looking in my gall book this looks like it could be from a small grey fly called Chirosia betuleti, which apparently resembles a small house fly. Eggs are laid in the tip of the frond + as the larvae tunnelo into the main stalk causing it to twist + the pinnae (the leaflets) become distorted as in your photo. Hey aeshna, that sounds like an interesting book - which one is it?  |
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Post by John Pappus on Jul 26, 2015 13:48:45 GMT
I have no idea what the cause is - but it's an intriguing picture.
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Post by aeshna5 on Jul 26, 2015 16:48:37 GMT
It is a gall + many galls are caused by insects. Looking in my gall book this looks like it could be from a small grey fly called Chirosia betuleti, which apparently resembles a small house fly. Eggs are laid in the tip of the frond + as the larvae tunnelo into the main stalk causing it to twist + the pinnae (the leaflets) become distorted as in your photo. Hey aeshna, that sounds like an interesting book - which one is it? Hi John- it's one of the excellent WildGuides (all of this series are worthy additions to any naturalist's library) Britain's Plant Galls ( a photographic guide) by Michael Chinery Far from comprehensive but covers most of the more obvious galls for a non specialist. |
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Post by John Pappus on Jul 26, 2015 21:52:49 GMT
Thanks aeshna - these galls are interesting things, I think an (cultivated) azalea in our garden has such a thing, it's formed some very distorted and obviously abnormal tissue in a couple of places on it's stem and encompassing part of a leaf too by the look of it... I'll take some pictures and perhaps dissect one tomorrow if I get a chance. Thanks again for the book recommendation.
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Post by NellyDee on Jul 27, 2015 12:09:17 GMT
Thanks Aeshna and John Gosh find that really interesting. First time seen this on ferns. |
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