During a recent visit to a garden in the village of Blundeston near Lowestoft TM 59 I came across a non-flowering plant of Tansy T. vulgare growing in the soil on the east facing side of a wildlife pond. On the leaves, midrib and leaf edges I found c100 flask like galls which were a much paler green colour than the leaves. I took a sample away and consulted the ‘Plant Galls in Norfolk’ by Rex Hancy. The flask gall mentioned is the Midge Rhopalomyia taneciticola. The publication states that it can be found in the inflorescence or stem, but does not mention it being found on the leaves. A sample was duly sent to Rex for examination and he was pleased to report that it is known for the gall to appear on the leaf blade but it was the first he and his wife had seen. Also, Rex noted that the larvae in the sample were orange, whereas in some papers it is said to be pink or rose. Much larger flowering plants of Tansy were growing nearby were unaffected.
Whilst looking through back issues of The Lowestoft Field Club reports for any records of this Gall I came across an article in the 1977 issue by Dr Alan Beaumont who found a galled plant along the disused rail line at Gunton. He was unable to name the gall but I am sure it was this species.
I can find no other Suffolk records.
Colin A Jacobs
© 2003 Suffolk Naturalists' Society