The apple maggot, also known as the railroad worm, is a species of fruit fly, and a pest of several types of fruits, especially apples. This species evolved about 150 years ago through a sympatric shift from the native host hawthorn to the domesticated apple species Malus domestica in the northeastern United States. This fly is believed to have been accidentally spread to the western United States from the endemic eastern United States region through contaminated apples at multiple points throughout the 20th century. The apple maggot uses Batesian mimicry as a method of defense, with coloration resembling that of the forelegs and pedipalps of a jumping spider.
The Tephritidae are one of two fly families referred to as fruit flies, the other family being the Drosophilidae. The family Tephritidae does not include the biological model organisms of the genus Drosophila, which is often called the "common fruit fly". Nearly 5,000 described species of tephritid fruit fly are categorized in almost 500 genera of the Tephritidae. Description, recategorization, and genetic analyses are constantly changing the taxonomy of this family. To distinguish them from the Drosophilidae, the Tephritidae are sometimes called peacock flies, in reference to their elaborate and colorful markings. The name comes from the Greek τεφρος, tephros, meaning "ash grey". They are found in all the biogeographic realms.
Rhagoletis is a genus of tephritid fruit flies with about 70 species.
Rhagoletis indifferens, the western cherry fruit fly, is a pest that lives only on cherries. Its native host is Prunus emarginata. The adult form of this insect is slightly smaller than a housefly, with white stripes across the abdomen, yellow markings near the base of the wings, and black markings on the wings. The larva, which is the stage of this insect's lifecycle that causes the actual damage to the fruit, is similar to a typical fly larva or maggot. Female flies lay eggs in the cherries, where the larvae feed for 1–2 weeks before exiting. Western cherry fruit flies damage fruit by feeding, in both the adult and larval stages.
Rhagoletis mendax is a species of tephritid fruit fly known by the common name blueberry maggot. The blueberry maggot is closely related to the apple maggot, a larger fruit fly in the same genus. It is a major pest of plant species in the Ericaceae family, such as blueberry, cranberry, and huckleberry. The larva is 5 to 8 mm long, apodous, and white with chewing mouthparts. Female adults are 4.75 mm in length, males are slightly smaller. Both adults are mostly black in color with white stripes, orange-red eyes, and a single pair of clear wings with black banding. The adult female fly lays a single egg per blueberry, and when the larva hatches it consumes the fruit, usually finishing the entire berry in under 3 weeks and rendering it unmarketable. The larva then falls to the soil and pupates. Adult flies emerge, mate, and females oviposit when blueberry plants are producing fruit. Each female fly can lay 25 to 100 eggs in their lifetime.
The Tephritid Workers Database is a web-based database for sharing information on tephritid fruit flies. Because these species are one of the most economically important group of insect species that threaten fruit and vegetable production and trade worldwide, a tremendous amount of information is made available each year: new technologies developed, new information on their biology and ecology; new control methods made available, new species identified, new outbreaks recorded and new operational control programmes launched. The TWD allows workers to keep up-to-date on the most recent developments and provides an easily accessible and always available resource.
Rhagoletis cerasi is a species of fruit fly in the family Tephritidae.
Rhagoletis fausta, the black-bodied cherry fruit fly, is a species of tephritid or fruit flies in the genus Rhagoletis of the family Tephritidae. It is found in the United States and Canada.
Rhagoletis juglandis, also known as the walnut husk fly, is a species of tephritid or fruit fly in the family Tephritidae. It is closely related to the walnut husk maggot Rhagoletis suavis. This species of fly belongs to the R. suavis group, which has a natural history consistent with allopatric speciation. The flies belonging to this group are morphologically distinguishable.
Rhagoletis ochraspis is a species of tephritid or fruit fly in the genus Rhagoletis of the family Tephritidae.
Rhagoletis suavis, also known as the walnut husk maggot, is a species of tephritid or fruit fly in the family Tephritidae. This fly is closely related to, but not to be confused with, Rhagoletis juglandis, or the walnut husk fly. It occurs in North America.
Rhagoletis turanica is a species of tephritid or fruit fly in the genus Rhagoletis of the family Tephritidae.
Rhagoletis willinki is a species of tephritid or fruit fly in the genus Rhagoletis of the family Tephritidae.
Rhagoletis zephyria is a species of tephritid or fruit fly in the genus Rhagoletis of the family Tephritidae. Visually similar to Rhagoletis pomonella and often misidentified as such.
Rhagoletis cingulata, the eastern cherry fruit fly, is a species of tephritid or fruit flies in the genus Rhagoletis of the family Tephritidae. The cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cingulata (Loew), is found from Michigan to New Hampshire, southward to Florida, occurring over the entire middle and eastern region of the United States and also in southeastern and southcentral Canada.
Rhagoletis meigenii, common name barberry fly or yellow berberis fruit fly, is a species of tephritid or fruit flies in the genus Rhagoletis of the family Tephritidae.
Rhagoletis tabellaria is a species of tephritid or fruit fly in the genus Rhagoletis of the family Tephritidae.
Rhagoletis tomatis is a species of tephritid or fruit fly in the genus Rhagoletis of the family Tephritidae.
Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) is one of six operational program units within the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The PPQ works to safeguard agriculture and natural resources in the U.S. against the entry, establishment, and spread of animal and plant pests, and noxious weeds in order to help ensure the protection of native flora and an abundant, high-quality, and varied food supply.
