Asphondylia conspicua

Asphondylia rudbeckiae conspicua

The gall of this species is found on Rudbeckia triloba and Rudbeckia laciniata. The adult and gall were described by Osten Sacken and the gall is figured here for the first time. I have taken it in the valley of the Black Mountains, North Carolina, in August, and have also received it from Miss Alberta Field from Ashtabula, Ohio. The adults emerge late in August and early in September.

Asphondylia rudbeckiaeconspicua is a bivoltine species that produces a summer apical flower gall on Rudbeckia laciniata Linnaeus and a spring crown gall at the base of the plant the following May.

Large, globular, succulent bud gall at base of plant in spring or apex of plant in summer...Asphondylia rudbeckiaeconspicua Osten Sacken

Galls are large and polythalamous. Summer galls begin development in June and July, and have leaves and an occasional flower petal growing from their tips. Adults emerge from these galls in late summer and lay eggs in the next year's buds at the base of the plant...Hosts: R. laciniata, R. triloba...