Contarinia nasturtii

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Contarinia nasturtii
Draaihartigheid bij bloemkool (Contarinia nasturtii damage on cauliflower).jpg
Damage to a young cauliflower plant
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Cecidomyiidae
Genus: Contarinia
Species:
C. nasturtii
Binomial name
Contarinia nasturtii
(Kieffer, 1888)

Contarinia nasturtii, the swede midge, is a small fly, the larvae of which infest brassica plants, causing twisting and distortion of the leaf stems and foliage including death of the growing point in seedlings, or damage to developing flower heads. It is native to Europe and Turkey, and has been introduced into North America where it is regarded as an invasive species.

Contents

Life cycle

Adult swede midges are yellowish-brown and up to 2 mm (0.08 in) long, and live for up to three days. During this time the female lays about one hundred eggs in several batches on the leaves of suitable host plants. The eggs need moisture to hatch and the larvae emerge in between one and ten days at 30 to 10 °C (86 to 50 °F) respectively. They feed for between one and three weeks, again depending on temperature, and produce a gall. When fully grown they descend to the soil and either pupate in an oval cocoon at a depth of about 5 cm (2 in) or, in adverse weather conditions, become dormant in a globular cocoon buried deeper in the soil. The adults emerge one and a half to seven weeks after pupation and there are several generations each year. [1]

When the dormancy period is due to drought, development continues after wetting, but when it is due to low temperature, development restarts only after a prolonged period of cold weather. The larvae then make their way to the soil surface before burying themselves shallowly and forming an oval cocoon. [1]

Host-attraction

A recent study found that C. nasturtii, despite being crucifer-specialist, may not depend on the crucifer-specific glucosinolates. [2] Therefore, other volatile compounds emitted by crucifer plants may mediate the C. nasturtii host attraction. [2]

Damage

Host plants for the swede midge include cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi and a number of wild plants in the brassica family including shepherd's purse, field penny-cress, field peppergrass and yellow rocket. [3] When a seedling or young plant is attacked, the larvae conglomerate and secrete saliva which softens the plant cuticle and epidermis, sucking in the resulting fluid. On a leaf stalk, this damages the tissues and results in the formation of a corky gall. The undamaged side of the stalk continues to grow normally which results in twisting and distortion. The growing point can be completely killed and secondary bacterial infections can occur. If the infection occurs in the flowering stage of cauliflower, it causes a stunted, multi-branched, tuft-like appearance of the flower-head. [3]

Distribution

Contarinia nasturtii is native to Europe and Turkey. It was first detected in Canada in 1996 and is now present in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. In the United States it was detected in the western part of New York state in 2004 and is now also known from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, and Vermont. It is regarded as an invasive species in North America. [4] [5]

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<i>Contarinia quinquenotata</i> Species of fly

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A gnat is any of many species of tiny flying insects in the dipterid suborder Nematocera, especially those in the families Mycetophilidae, Anisopodidae and Sciaridae. They can be both biting and non-biting. Most often they fly in large numbers, called clouds. "Gnat" is a loose descriptive category rather than a phylogenetic or other technical term, so there is no scientific consensus on what constitutes a gnat. Some entomologists consider only non-biting flies to be gnats. Certain universities and institutes also distinguish eye gnats: the Smithsonian Institution describes them as "non-biting flies, no bigger than a few grains of salt, ... attracted to fluids secreted by your eyes".

<i>Asphondylia</i> Genus of flies

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<i>Rhopalomyia anthophila</i> Species of fly

Rhopalomyia anthophilathe Downy Flower Gall Midgeis a species of gall midges, insects in the family Cecidomyiidae. It induces galls on the host Solidago altissima across much of North America.

<i>Rabdophaga rigidae</i> Species of fly

Rabdophaga rigidae, the willow beaked-gall midge, is a species of gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae. It is found across North America. Some sources state that it is also present in parts of eastern Asia including Japan; however, a 2006 study shows that the Asian populations likely represent a separate species: Rabdophaga salicivora.

<i>Contarinia negundinis</i> Species of fly

Contarinia negundinis, known generally as boxelder gall midge, is a species of gall midges in the family Cecidomyiidae. Other common names include the boxelder bud gall midge and boxelder leaf gall midge. It is the only North American species that enters diapause during the pupal stage of development.

Contarinia virginianiae, known as chokecherry midge or chokecherry gall midge, is a species of gall midges in the family Cecidomyiidae. Its host is the chokecherry Prunus virginiana.

<i>Polystepha pilulae</i> Species of fly

Polystepha pilulae, the oak leaf gall midge, is a species of gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae. It is found in eastern North America.

Geromyia penniseti, the millet grain midge, is a species of gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae. It is found in Africa and South Asia. During the rainy season, it feeds on the developing grains of pearl millet plants.

Stenodiplosis sorghicola, the sorghum midge, is a species of gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae. It is a pest of millets. The species is native to Africa and is also found in India. During the rainy season, it feeds on the developing grains of pearl millet plants.

Mayetiola thujae, the redcedar cone midge, is a species of gall midge that infects western redcedar cones.

Synopeas myles is a platygastrid parasitoid of Contarinia nasturtii, that, like its host, is native to Europe. It has been considered as a potential biological pest control in North America, where C. nasturtii is invasive.

References

  1. 1 2 Readshaw, J. L. (1966). "The ecology of the swede midge, Contarinia nasturtii (Kieff.) (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae). I.—Life-history and influence of temperature and moisture on development". Bulletin of Entomological Research. 56 (4): 685–700. doi:10.1017/S0007485300056686.
  2. 1 2 Boddum T, Molnár BP, Hill SR, Birgersson GÅO, Hansson BS, Abreha KB, Andreasson E and Hillbur Y (2018) Host Attraction and Selection in the Swede Midge (Contarinia nasturtii). Front. Ecol. Evol. 6:61. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2018.00061
  3. 1 2 Stokes, Barbara M. (1955). "The host plant range of the Swede midge (Contarinia nasturtii kieffer) with special reference to types of plant damage". European Journal of Plant Pathology. 59 (3): 82–90. doi:10.1007/BF02106324.
  4. Plant Health Survey Unit (2014-07-15). "Contarinia nasturtii (Swede Midge): Fact Sheet". CFIA. Retrieved 2015-01-07.
  5. Chen, M; Shelton, A.M.; Wang, P; Hoepting, C.A.; Kain, W.C.; Brainard, D.C. (2009). "Occurrence of the new invasive insect Contarinia nasturtii (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) on cruciferous weeds". Journal of Economic Entomology. 102 (1): 115–120. doi: 10.1603/029.102.0116 . PMID   19253625.