Oligotrophus papyriferae Gagné is univoltine in Michigan. Adults emerge in mid-May and the females deposit small egg clusters on the underside of the leaf near the petiole of paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.). Larval eclosion occurs 1–2 weeks later; there are three instars. The larvae bore into and down the petiole and enter the stem or a bud attending the leaf base. Galls appear in early August. There are petiole-bud and petiole-stem galls, depending on which tissues are infested. Third-instar larvae vacate the galls in late September, work their way into the litter, and construct cocoons in which they overwinter. Pupation occurs the following May. Trees from 2 to 30 ft tall are attacked; lower branches are attacked the heaviest. Large galls kill buds, twigs, and entire branches. Small galls leave deeply indented branch scars and deformed limbs.