Blossom midge Contarinia maculipennis Felt infesting tuberose (Agave amica) flowers in India

Abstract

Tuberose (Agave amica (Medikus) Thiede and Govaerts) is a hardy and economically important flower crop in India. Tuberose growers have been facing severe loss in flower yield due to the large-scale deformities and rotting of buds caused by midge fly attacks. Morphology and DNA barcoding have confirmed the identity of this midge species as Contarinia maculipennis Felt (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Maggot feeding causes deformation and rotting of the infested buds and imparts an ugly appearance to the tuberose florets. Midge fly infestation ranged from 5.67% to 88% from July to September 2022 in different tuberose-growing areas of Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in India. The bioecology of this midge species and the nature of damage to tuberose were studied to develop eco-friendly management methods. This study offers novel insights into the nature and extent of midge damage to tuberose and how midge symptoms differ from tuberose melody symptoms caused by the foliar nematode.