Ceanothus stem gall moth—Periploca ceanothiella
The ceanothus stem gall moth probably occurs throughout the United States wherever Ceanothus species
occur, but the moth is apparently a pest only in California. Adults are small dark moths.
Damage
Larvae tunnel into plants and cause spindle-shaped swellings on stems. Plant growth is
stunted and blooming is reduced.
Solutions
Most galls are not known to harm trees. Prune and dispose of galls if they are annoying.
This may provide control of some species if pruning is done when the immatures are in plant tissue and
before the adults begin to emerge. Consider replacing susceptible plants with ceanothus
species that are
not infested or only lightly infested by stem gall moths.
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Ceanothus
stem gall moth larva
Swollen
stems infested with moth larvae
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