This gall is one I've seen before on Euphorbia polycarpa in the area, but this year there are literally thousands of the things densely covering many individual plants, many of them within handy reach just off my porch. I've been trying to raise the galls with some success, though I'm not sure I've capture the responsible organism. Larvae are all similar and are included in the first observation below; there is also a pupa, bearing some similarity with the chacidoid wasp. First adults to appear were the parasitoid chalcidoid wasp linked below. Next was the smaller four-winged insect also below. I'm at a loss to ID that one even to order. The individual photographed has some coordination issues. Photos aren't great, but equipment is limited and depth of field suffers.
I also found similar galls on Euphorbia melanadenia in a branch of Rackensack Canyon (third observation).
Unknown e-polycarpa-tubular-gall. Host Euphorbia polycarpa. Gall about 1 cm on average, larva between 1.5 and 2 mm (scale 0.5 mm). Gall open at distal end. White, waxy material in gall. Hundreds of galls in the immediate area.
Unknown gall on Euphorbia melanadenia - "Unknown e-melanadenia-pubescent-tube-gall"
Gall-former, parasite or inquiline from Euphorbia polycarpa galls (e-polycarpa-tubular-gall); 1.5-2 mm long.
Host Euphorbia polycarpa; a good number of these have also turned up, presumably from the E. polycarpa galls. Small four-winged critter 1.2 mm long; has trouble remaining upright.
ETA: Nymphs posted here.
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Awesome! Thanks for posting this. The unknown insect is curious. I don't think it's in the same family as the one that makes galls out of the leaves: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/12677509
Sure looks like a hemipteran to me. The antenna and body shape remind me a lot of Cicadellidae and white flies.
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