back to HYPP Zoology home page


.
Psila rosae (F.)
Insecta, Diptera, Psilidae .

Carrot fly

Description, Biology, Life Cycle, Damage, Common Names, Images

[R]Description
- Adult: length 4 to 5 mm, black thorax and abdomen, yellow legs except for the tarsi which are darker. Elongated abdomen, pointed in the female. Hyaline wings with yellowish veins (*) .
- Egg: very small, barely visible, hidden in the soil, singly or in groups.
- Larva: very elongated (6 to 7 mm), shiny white-yellowish.
- Puparium: brownish, barrel-shaped (*) .

[R]Biology
- Host plants: wild and cultivated carrots, celery and more rarely, parsley (*) .
- Carrot fly overwinters as a pupa; the adults appear over an extended period, from the end of April/beginning of May until July. The flies take flight on fine days, flying slowly, landing frequently on the leaves of a large variety of low-growing plants. They mate and lay eggs shortly afterwards in the ground near host plants. Embryo development: 10 to 12 days.
- Larva: moves in the soil and penetrates the root, forms twisting galleries, notably in the external layer (*) . Larval development lasts one month after which it pupates.

[R]Life Cycle
-2 generations per annum, a 3rd in the autumn in some regions.
-The first-generation larvae develop on new carrots and the flies appear from July to September, producing very harmful 2nd-generation larvae, which cause damage to carrot crops right up to October-November.

[R]Damage
Attacked carrots are stunted; they frequently rot and acquire a bitter taste (*) .

[R]Remark/A>
In Germany: 2 generations per annum. Highest larval feeding activity in August. 2nd generation overwintering as larvae inside the root (which makes the damage more severe) or as pupae.

[R]Common Names
DE: Möhrenfliege ES: Mosca de la zanahoria FR: Mouche de la carotte IT: Mosca della carota PT: Mosca da cenoura GB: Carrot fly, Carrot rust fly

[R] Images

  1. Psila rosae (F.) (Coutin R. / OPIE)
    Adult at rest
  2. Psila rosae (F.) (Coutin R. / OPIE)
    Group of affected carrots
  3. Psila rosae (F.) (Coutin R. / OPIE)
    Damage on carrot Galleries situated under the epidermis cause the tissue to burst open.
    .
  4. Psila rosae (F.) (Coutin R. / OPIE)
    Puparia in the soil
  5. Psila rosae (F.) (BASF)
    Damage on crop of parsley

To read this page in French

HYPPZ on line : Species (scientific name), Pests (common names), Glossary, Crops.

back to HYPP Zoology home page