Rhagoletis cerasi

Rhagoletis cerasi (the cherry fruit fly or European cherry fruit fly) is a species of fruit fly in the family Tephritidae.

Rhagoletis cerasi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Diptera
Family:
Tephritidae
Genus:
Rhagoletis
Species:
R. cerasi
Binomial name
Rhagoletis cerasi
Synonyms[1]

Distribution

This species is widespread in most of Europe, except British Islands, in western Siberia to Caucasus, in Kazakhstan, Central Asia and Altai.[2] It was first detected in North America in 2016.[3]

Description

Rhagoletis cerasi can reach a body length of about 3.5–5 mm (0.14–0.20 in).[4] These small fruit flies have a shiny body, dark brown, almost black. Mesonotum shows silvery vittae. The wings are transpartent, with four transverse dark stripes.[4] Eyes are green with reddish reflections. The head is brown, while scutellum and the legs are yellow. [5]

This species is very similar to Rhagoletis berberidis. [5]

Biology

The adults can be found from late May to early July.[4] They feed on the sugary secretions produced by the cherry itself or by insects (such as the aphid honeydew). After 10–15 days the females lay 50-80 eggs[4] one at a time in the pulp of the fruit. After 6–12 days[4] the eggs hatch and white legless larvae 4–6 mm long[4] come out and feed on the pulp of the fruit. During the ripening the larvae leave the fruit and pupate in the soil,[4] where they overwinter. Usually this species have one generation every 1–2 years.[4]

These fruit flies are considered a major pest of cherry crops [6] in Europe and Asia. They damage also the fruits of apricot, honeysuckle, barberry, bird cherry and snowberry.

  • Drawing of cherry fruit fly
  • Larva in a cherry fruit
  • Imago

Bibliography
  • Luigi Masutti, Sergio Zangheri, Entomologia generale e applicata, Padova, CEDAM, 2001, p. 745-746, ISBN 88-13-23135-0. (in Italian)
  • Mario Ferrari, Elena Marcon; Andrea Menta, Fitopatologia, Entomologia agraria e biologia applicata, 3rd ed., Bologna, Calderini Edagricole, 2000, ISBN 88-206-4159-3. (in Italian)

References
  1. Catalogue of Life
  2. Fauna Europaea
  3. Wakie, Tewodros T. (2018). "Assessing the risk of establishment of Rhagoletis cerasi (Diptera: Tephritidae) in the United States and globally". Journal of Economic Entomology. 111 (3): 1275–1284. doi:10.1093/jee/toy054.
  4. Mouche de la cerise (in French)
  5. V. A. Korneyev, S.V. Korneyev, R. I. Mishustin The Carpomyini Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) of Europe, Caucasus, and Middle East: New Records of Pest Species, with Improved Keys
  6. Biological control of the cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cerasi L. (Diptera, Tephritidae) by use of entomopathogenic nematodes: first experiences towards practical implementation


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