There are about 5,000 species of gall midges (Cecidomyiidae) worldwide, including about 700 species in Central Europe. They owe their name to the formation of galls on various parts of their host plants, such as grasses, shrubs and trees, in which their offspring develop. High concentrations of cytokinins have sometimes been found in the galls, influencing plant and gall growth and development. Gall midges spend most of their lives in the larval stage and some species are parasitic or predatory. Adults live only for a short time. After four larval stages, the developing gall midges pupate in their galls. Gall midges feed exclusively on plants and do not transmit diseases to humans.

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