PESTS OF CASTOR :: Minor Pests :: Castor Gallfly

13.  Castor gallfly: Asphondylia ricini (Cecidomyidae: Diptera)

Damage symptoms: The damage is caused by maggots.  As a result of feeding by them, the buds develop into galls and produce no fruits and seeds.  This pest is active from September to March.

Bionomics: Adults are a mosquito like small fly. The female lays eggs singly in the buds.  Incubation period is 2-4 days.  The young maggot feeds on the floral parts and cause malformation of buds which fail to develop into seeds.  Larval period lasts for 14-21 days.  The pupal period is 7-12 days.  Complete life cycle takes 23-37 days.

Management: Spraying the infested crop with 0.07% endosulfan 35 EC or 0.05% methyldemeton 25 EC @ 1000-1200 L water/ha.