Insect Pests of Fruits, Plantation, Medicinal & Aromatic Crops

9.Flower gall midge

9.Flower gall midge-Dasyneura amaramanjarae Grov.(Cecidomyiidae :Diptera)

Damage

• The maggot feeds on the ovary and the nectaries of growing bud which fail to produce fruits.
• Several larvae are found in single flower.
Bionomics

• The adult flies insert the eggs into un opened flower buds.
• A female fly lays about 40-50 eggs.
  
• The incubation period is 30-36 hours.
• The larva becomes full fed after three moults and drop down to the soil to undergo diapause.
• The maggot hibernate in soil thus the carry over of the pest to the next year is accomplished.
• When the favourable condition set in they pupate and emerge as adults.