Cherry Fruit Fly-Rhagoletis cingulata

Diptera: Tephritidae

Identification
• The adult fly is black, almost ¹/₄" long, and has black markings on its transparent wings.
• The larva is a whitish, legless maggot up to ¹/₃" long.

Damage
• Apple maggot larvae tunnel through the fruit of apple, pear, plum, and apricot causing brown streaks. (a)
• Cherry fruit fly larvae tunnel through the fruit of cherry, making it unusable. (b)
• Adult egg-laying causes sunken dimples in fruit. (c)

Management
• Apple maggot is normally a pest only in the northern midwest.
• Apple maggot red sphere traps placed in the tree early in the season will reduce fly numbers later.
• Insecticide applications are effective.

Other Information
• These flies are close relatives of the Mediterranean fruit fly, which is responsible for federal quarantine and eradication programs in sub-tropical fruit and vegetable production areas of the U.S.