Stem Gall Midge
Lasioptera ephedricola

This midge induces wrinkled or furrowed integral stem galls on desert teas. Galls are normally darker green than the rest of the stems when fresh and appear like dead tissue with age.

Host:
Ephedra californica
Ephedra nevadensis
Ephedra trifurca

L. ephedricola

Gall a resinous, elongate, lateral, brown swelling on the twigs of Ephedra trijurca.

Irregular, resinous stem swelling ... Lasioptera ephedricola Cockerell and Neolasioptera sp.

L. ephedricola. Swellings are rugose, usually darker than the normal stem. 1-3 cm long, and usually polythalamous. Occasionally a gall with only one larva inside will not show a conspicuous swelling. Larvae live in fungus-lined tunnels, the fungus turning black when mature.... Hosts: E. californica, E. nevadensis, E. trifurca.
...
Neolasioptera sp. A few specimens of an unidentified species were reared with L. ephedricola from galls on Ephedra sp. in Arizona.