Introduction Over the past several years, Gleditsia triacanthos var . However, it is becoming apparent that with the abundance of this plant in the landscape, three insect problems are worth noting. Small, two winged, fly-like adults, about three millimetres long overwinter in soil and emerge just as new foliage begins to develop in spring.
Females lay microscopic eggs in unfolding leaflets.
White to yellow larvae, about six millimetres in length, hatch in one to two days and begin feeding on the leaf surface. After three weeks of feeding, larvae pupate within the pod and adults emerge. There are several generations per season. Galls dry up and fall resulting in reduced foliage and an unsightly canopy. Repeated attacks may cause the death of small branches.