This species is bivoltine and induces different bud galls in the spring and summer on three different host plants.

Each gall typically contains only one chamber in the middle of the apical meristem and contains a single larva.

Each chamber contains a single larva that faces downwards and is surrounded by a group of short and narrow leaves, which are in turn surrounded by longer and wider leaves that form a distinct subunit within the gall.

Typically, 2-5 subunits are clumped together at the shoot apex to form a rosette gall that is 3–5 cm in diameter.

Males can be recognized by their large and gonopods, and females have the shortest ovipositors of all Rhopalomyia species from goldenrods.