Most Australian wattles lose these true leaves as they grow, and develop instead the leaf-like organ called a phyllode. |
|
A colony is initiated by a single female who induces gall formation on a growing phyllode of a host Acacia tree. |
|
Gall induction by founders is only permitted when new phyllode growth is available for inoculation. |
|
All feeding stages feed on the phyllode surface enclosed by the domicile and, as with most other thrips, offspring feed independently. |
|
Single females, or a female-male pair, induce a gall on the phyllode of a specific host plant and become fully enclosed within a few days after initiation. |
|
Damage to growing pitcher leaves prevent them from forming proper pitchers, and again, the plant produces a phyllode instead. |
|