These specimens emerged from stems of Ephedra sp. (Ephedraceae). The first came from a conspicuous, polythalamous gall, from which three adults had already emerged before I collected it, leaving their pupal exuviae protruding...

[This may be a mistake. The gall and insect were apparently ID'd according to Gagne (1989), but appear to match the entry there for the similarly-named L. ephedricola Cockerell.]

Stem Gall Midge
Lasioptera ephedrae

Galls are stem-green, taper gently, and show a dimple of thinner, beige tissue about midway along their length, where the larval chamber is located.

Host:
Ephedra californica
Ephedra nevadensis
Ephedra trifurca

Range: NM, CA

L. ephedrae

The gall is a fusiform swelling on the twigs of Ephedra trifurca.

Subglobular, nonresinous stem swelling ... Lasioptera ephedrae Cockerell
The monothalamous swellings are dimpled, the same color as the normal stem, and about 1015 mm long and 5 mm in diameter at midlength...the pupa exits in spring through a depression on one side where the wall is thinner. Hosts: E. antisyphilitica, E. nevadaensis, E. trifurca.