Contarinia pyrivora (Riley, 1886)

pear midge

on Pyrus

Pyrus communis, Dronten © Arnold Grosscurt

same galled fruit, opened

galled fruits later turn black

opened

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

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

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), 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), 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 & Massa (2007a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Meyer (2014a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Neacsu (1972a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý, Skrzypczyńska & Szadziewski (2008a), Tomasi (2014a).