Dasineura urticae

Dasineura urticae

Description

The larva of the gall-midge Dasineura urticae causes galls to form on the leaves of Common (Stinging) Nettle and Annual Nettle. The galls are pouch swellings of midrib, leaf, petiole or flower stalk.  Occasionally they are found in flowers or stem.  There is an opening on the upperside. 

The larva is white, but according to Redfern and Shirley (2011) there may be pink, orange or red inquiline larvae inside. . 

Similar Species

Dasineura dioicae also causes galls on nettle, a thickened leaf margin loosely rolled upwards and reddened. 

Identification difficulty

Gall  Adult

Habitat

Anywhere that the host plants grow

Life History

The eggs are laid in the base of the leaf or in the main leaf veins. The larvae then cause a 'pouch' to form in the leaf structure and from this enclosed retreat they consume the inner tissues of the leaf.

UK Status

Common and widespread in Britain

VC55 Status

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

All NatureSpot records