ABSTRACT
A detailed investigation of any species of gall midges necessarily includes the study of the morphology of its larvae and their mode of life, and especially of the damage they cause. Larvae can only be successfully collected, in particular if we aim at the investigation of a whole complex of species living in a certain biotope, if we use multiple methods; for we must not only collect larvae from galls, but also from soil, litter, wood, and fungi. A painstaking inspection of the plants making it impossible to miss some odd species, is a fundamental requisite for a thorough collection of phytophagous larvae. Gall midge larvae that develop in herbs may also cause malformations of branch tips, leaf blades, stems, flowers, and fruits. The collection of material in the field is probably the only way to procure the necessary series of larvae that develop in rotting wood.
