Contarinia pyrivora (Riley, 1886)

pear midge

on Pyrus

Contarinia pyrivora, galling fruits of Pyrus spec.

Pyrus spec., Hungary, Budapest © László Érsek

Contarinia pyrivora, larvae in gall on Pyrus spec.

opened gall with larvae

Contarinia pyrivora: galled fruit

Pyrus communis, Dronten © Arnold Grosscurt

Contarinia pyrivora: opened gall

same galled fruit, opened

Contarinia pyrivora: galled fruit, later stage

galled fruits later turn black

Contarinia pyrivora: galled fruit, later stage, opened

opened

Contarinia pyrivora: puparia in fallen gall

a small fraction of the larvae remains in the gall and forms a puparium there, without making a cocoon

Contarinia pyrivora: aborted fruits of Pyrus communis

Pyrus communis; België © Patrick Heyerick, Boomgaard Langeveld, Kruishoutem: aborted pears

gall

Eggs are deposited on the unopened flowers. The emerging larvae infect a developing fruit; a single fruit may contain up to 100 larvae. Infested fruits turn black inside and out, and drop when they are about 2 cm. The larvae are yellowish white, and can jump. Univoltine; hibernation as a puparium, generally in the ground.

host plants

Rosaceae, monophagous

Pyrus communis, salicifolia, spinosa.

larva

Contarinia pyrivora: spatula

spatula (from Kieffer, 1901a)

notes

Important pest in fruit crops.

inquilines

see Clinodiplosis contariniperda (del Guercio, 1918).

references

Barnes (1948b), Buhr (1965a), Dauphin & Aniotsbehere (1997a), Houard (1908a), Kieffer (1901a), Lambinon, Schneider & Feitz (2001b), Mirumian (2011a), Redfern & Shirley (2011a), Roques, Cleary, Matsiakh & Eschem (2017a), Roskam (2009a), Roskam & Carbonnelle (2015a), Simova-Tošić, Skuhravá & Skuhravý (1996a, 2000a, 2004a), Simova-Tošić, Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Postolovski (2007a), Skuhravá, Bayram, Çam ao (2005a), Skuhravá & Skuhravý (1994a, 1997a,b, 1999a, 2002a, 2006a, 2008a, 2010a, 2011a, 2012a, 2021a: 204), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Carbonnelle (2017a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý, Dauphin & Coutin (2005a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý, Dončev & Dimitrova (1991a, 1992a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Hellrigl (2001a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Jørgensen (2006a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Kettani (2017a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Massa (2007a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Meyer (2014a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Neacsu (1972a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý, Skrzypczyńska & Szadziewski (2008a), Tomasi (2014a).