THE INFLUENCE OF GALL MIDGES RHOPALOMYIA SPP. ON THE ANATOMICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILES OF THEIR HOST PLANTS IN SAINT KATHERINE PROTECTORATE

Abstract

This study was carried out on the stem galls induced by the gall-midges Rhopalomyia sp. on three important medicinal host plants in St. Katherine Protectorate namely, Seriphidium herba-album, Tanacetum sinaicum and Pterocephalus sanctus. 1. Morphology of plant galls Galls induced in S. herba-album stems were large, densely white pubescent galls with several chambers, situated on stem sides and one larva developed in each gall. Galls induced in T. sinaicum were open cup-shaped galls. Each gall was composed of a single chamber in which a single larva developed. Galls induced in P. sanctus were knotty irregular-shaped galls. P. sanctus galls were formed of more than one chamber in which one larva developed. S. herba-album galls showed the induction of hairy non-glandular protective tissue covering the whole galls.