weird beauty

bunch galls appear as flower-like clusters of leaves at the tip of a goldenrod stem. the female gall midge lays her eggs on the top bud of the goldenrod stem in the spring, stimulating the plant to produce an abnormal cluster of leaves that provide shelter for the developing midge. rather ingenious for a tiny midge. nature never ceases to amaze.

goldenrod bunch galls (Rhopalomyia solidaginis)