Boneset and gall midges

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Date

Fall 2010

Abstract

Introduction
Common boneset, Eupatorium perfoliatum, grows in moist woods, thickets, and swamps. Previous research has shown that galls on common boneset are similar to galls on goldenrod plants. The goal of our research was to assess the success of galls relative to placement of the galls on common boneset plants.

Hypothesis
We hypothesized that the location of galls on the plants would be correlated with the success of the gall. Methods Success of the gall was measured as the number of fly larvae found in the gall. We measured stem length, gall position, gall diameter, number of larvae in gall, and gall placement (main stem vs. side stem).

Results
We found a significant correlation between gall diameter and number of larvae in the gall. Larger galls contained more larvae. There was no correlation between the position of the gall within plants and success of the gall.

Comments

Completed as part of Ecology class, BIO 342, Biology Department, DePauw University.

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