Cecidomyiidae

The Cecidomyiidae (sometimes spelled Cecidomyidae) are a family of flies (order Diptera) known as gall midges or gall gnats. As the name implies, the larvae of most gall midges feed within plant tissue, creating abnormal plant growths called galls.

Cecidomyiidae are very fragile small insects usually only 2–3 mm in length; many are less than 1 mm long. They are characterised by hairy wings, unusual in the order Diptera, and have long antennae. More than 6,000 species and 783 genera are found worldwide, but since 1,100 are from well-studied North America, this may be an underestimate.