Rhagoletis mendax

Common name  

blueberry maggot fly

Description

Typical of Rhagoletis larvae with the following specific characteristics for the 3rd instar:

Body. Medium-sized; body length 8-11 mm.

Head. Cephalic lobes slightly developed.

Stomal organ: Peg sensillum relatively small; other peg-sensilla-like structures absent.

Stomal region: 2 large sclerotized stomal guards present; number of sclerotized stomal guards varies. Oral ridges present; number of oral ridges 5–7 (short); margins entire. Accessory plates absent. 

Anterior spiracles. Anterior spiracles convex to flat. Anterior spiracular tubules 13–16; in a single, large irregular row.

Spinules and creeping welts. Dorsal spinules with an unusual distribution; on segments T2-A7, possibly also on A8.

Caudal segment (A8) and anal lobes. Anal lobes simple; either very protuberant, or plainly visible but not protuberant.

Posterior spiracles. Slits ~3.5x longer than wide. Dorsal spiracular processes long, with numerous trunks. Number of dorsal spiracular processes 9–15. Number of ventral spiracular processes 9–15. Number of lateral spiracular processes 6–10.

Host plants

Family	Genus
Ericaceae	Gaultheria, Gaylussacia, Vaccinium
Rosaceae	Prunus

Part of plant attacked: fruit.

Biogeographic region and distribution

Nearctic

Canada and USA (Wisconsin east to Nova Scotia, south to Texas and Florida).
 

Adult taxonomy

Rhagoletis mendax Curran
Rhagoletis mendax Curran 1932: 7.—USA. Maine. HT ♂ AMNH.
Rhagoletis pomonella: Britton 1906: 260.—misid. See Foote et al. 1993: 353

References

Carroll, L. E., A. L. Norrbom, M. J. Dallwitz, and F. C. Thompson. 2004 onwards. Pest fruit flies of the world – larvae. Version: 8th December 2006. http://delta-intkey.com.

White, I. M., and M. M. Elson-Harris. 1992. Fruit flies of economic significance: their identification and bionomics. CAB International; Wallingford, UK. 601 p.