Contarinia tiliarum

Contarinia tiliarum is a midge that causes galls to form on Lime. The galls are hard globular swellings, 2 to 15 mm across which occur on the petiole, flower stalk or young stem and occasionally extending into the midrib of the leaf or the main vein of the bracteole. It is pale coloured, becoming green and often reddened. It may have one or many chambers each containing a lemon yellow larva.

Adult Gall

On Lime trees.

When Lime is in leaf.

Thought to be fairly frequent in Britain, but not well recorded.

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland, but may well be under recorded.