back to HYPP Zoology home page


.
Rhagoletis cerasi Loew
Insecta, Diptera, Tephritidae .

Cherry maggot; European cherry fruit fly

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

[R]Description
- Adult: small, length 3.5 mm to 5.0 mm; black body with yellow spots on the thorax and head. Transparent wings with 4 dark blue-black stripes which give them their typical appearance (*) .
- Larva: whitish, length 4 to 6 mm.

[R]Biology
- Host plant: cherry.
- Adult: the fly emerges in orchards from the end of May to early July. During sunshine, the fly rests on leaves and fruits, feeding on the plant's sugary secretions. The first eggs are laid 10 to 15 days after flying starts, in warm weather. Each female lays 50 to 80 eggs which are inserted singly under the epidermis of the fruit which is starting to turn red (*) .
- Egg: embryonic development lasts 6 to 12 days.
- Larva: feeds on the pulp surrounding the kernel. Larval development lasts approximately 30 days, after which the maggot leaves the fruit (*) , buries itself a few cm underground and pupates and overwinters (*) .

[R]Life Cycle
-1 cycle every 2 or 3 years, some pupae may overwinter 2 or even 3 times.

[R]Damage
-The damage varies from year to year; it is notably severe during hot weather in the egg-laying season (June and early July). Attacked fruit often rots, the harvest is reduced and difficult to sell (*) .

[R]Common Names
DE: Kirschfruchtfliege, Kirschfliege ES: Mosca de las cerezas FR: Mouche de la cerise IT: Mosca delle ciliegie PT: Mosca de cereja GB: Cherry maggot, European cherry fruit fly

[R] Images

  1. Rhagoletis cerasi Loew (Coutin R. / OPIE)
    Female on cherry
  2. Rhagoletis cerasi Loew (Coutin R. / OPIE)
    Wound caused by the oviscapt on cherry
  3. Rhagoletis cerasi Loew (Coutin R. / OPIE)
    Larva vacating an affected cherry
  4. Rhagoletis cerasi Loew (Coutin R. / OPIE)
    Damage on cherry Exit aperture of the larva and the white excrement it produces before it falls to the ground to pupate.
    .
  5. Rhagoletis cerasi Loew (Coutin R. / OPIE)
    Puparia in the soil

To read this page in French

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

back to HYPP Zoology home page