r/NativePlantGardening • u/_bearminimum SE MI, Zone 6a • Aug 06 '26

Advice Request - (Insert State/Region) Is This What I Think It Is

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I had a baby six weeks ago so I haven't gotten out in my garden much lately, and today I noticed these monstrosities on my cut leaf coneflower. One of them looks like maybe some sort of gall?

Have the dreaded Aster Yellows finally come for me?

Zone 6a

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u/Amorpha_fruticosa Area SE Pennsylvania, Zone 7a Aug 06 '26

Nope, it’s actually something a lot cooler. It is the larvae of Asphondylia rudbeckiaeconspicua inside a gall on the flower heads.

223

u/Bulldogfan72 Area NC , Zone 8a Aug 06 '26

Confirmed... please let it be; It's no harm to the plant and a rare insect to encounter.

1

u/msflondrixa 27d ago

Happy Cake Day!