gall midge

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Minute and fragile long-legged flies, with longish hairy antennae. The larvae are small maggots, ranging in colour from white or yellow, to orange and bright red, that feed on developing fruits which become deformed and decay, and frequently produce galls on plants.

Some forms live within galls formed by other insects, such as beetles, or other species of Cecidomyiidae. The hessian fly of North America and New Zealand, is a pest of wheat. The pearl midge Contarinia pyrivota is a serious fruit pest in Europe.

Classification
Gall midges are in the family Cecidomyiidae (suborder Nematocera) of the insect order Diptera, class Insecta, phylum Arthropoda.

The central band was widened in 1995. Red recalls the previous flag of the Kharijite Muslims. Effective date: 18 November 1995. >>