Mayetiola destructor (Say, 1817)

hessian fly

on cereals

Phleum pratense, Belgium, prov. Namur, Couvin, Aublain, 8.viii.2020 © Sébastien Carbonelle

gall

puparia

a single puparium

gall

The weakly swollen culm has, just above a node, one or more shallow oval depressions. They are not covered by the epidermis, but generally lie within a leaf sheath. In each a single, 3 mm long, larva is found, that is almost hyaline. Pupation within the gall: the larva forms a dark reddish brown puparium. Usually bivoltine. Heavily infested plants die off.

Only in the first and second instar the larva does feed. The third instar larva remains immobile within the dried larval skin of the second instar, a puparium, that functions as a cocoon. Before the definite pupation the larvae has to reverse its position to head upwards within the puparium; in this way the emerging imago will be able to leave the gall.

host plants

Poaceae, oligophagous

Cynodon dactylon; Elytrigia repens; Holcus lanatus; Hordeum murinum, vulgare & subsp. distichon; Phleum pratense; Poa nemoralis; Secale cereale; Triticum aestivum.

mainly in cereal crop species, wheat in the first place.

larva

The larva is described by Ertel (1975a).

prosternum with spatula (from Möhn, 1955a)

synonyms

Phytophaga destructor.

parasitoids, predators

Callitula bicolor; Eridontomerus isosomatis; Eupelmus messene; Homoporus destructor, febriculosus, nypsius; Spaniopus dissimilis.

notes

The Hessian Fly was introduced in Europe from North America in the 19th century. In Europe, but much more in America, an import pest of cereal crops.

references

Askew, Blasco-Zumeta & Pujade-Villar (2001a), Buhr (1964b, 1965a), Cheraghian (2013a), Dauphin & Aniotsbehere (1997a), Docters van Leeuwen (1936a), Ertel (1975a), Fusu (2017a), Gagné (2010a), Gagné & Doane (1999a), Houard (1908a), Janšta & Bouček (2006a), Lambinon, Schneider & Feitz (2001b), Mirumian (2011a), Möhn (1955a), Nijveldt (1954a), Redfern & Shirley (2011a), Roskam (2009a), Roskam & Carbonnelle (2015a), Rübsaamen (1895a), Sánchez, Skuhravá & Skuhravý (2012a), Simova-Tošić, Skuhravá & Skuhravý (2000a), Skuhravá, Bayram, Çam ao (2005a) Turkey, Skuhravá, Blasco-Zumeta & Skuhravý (1993a), Skuhravá & Skuhravý (1994a, 1997a,b, 1999a, 2004b, 2012a, 2021a: 29, 134), Skuhravá, Skuhravý, Blasco-Zumeta & Pujade-Villar (2006a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Buhr (2013a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Carbonnelle (2017a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý, Dauphin & Coutin (2005a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý, Dončev & Dimitrova (1991a, 1992a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Jørgensen (2006a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Massa (2007a), Skuhravý & Skuhravá (1999a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Kettani (2017a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Meyer (2014a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Neacsu (1972a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý, Skrzypczyńska & Szadziewski (2008a), Tomasi (2012a,2014a), Wetzel, Skuhravý, Camprag, ao (1984a), Wiśniowski & Jirak-Leszczyńska (2021a).