noun
- Plural of gallfly; small insects (family Cynipidae) whose larvae develop inside plant galls, causing abnormal growths on leaves, stems, and roots.
Usage: entomology; usually plural
Examples
- Gallflies lay their eggs on oak leaves, triggering the formation of distinctive round galls.
- The larvae of gallflies feed inside the protective gall tissue until they mature.
- Botanists study gallflies to understand how insects manipulate plant growth.
- Many species of gallflies are host-specific, attacking only certain plant species.
- The galls produced by gallflies can sometimes be harvested for tannin production.