kirsikkakärpästen

Kirsikkakärpänen refers to two closely related species of fruit fly, Rhagoletis cerasi and Rhagoletis cingulata, which are significant pests of cherry crops. Rhagoletis cerasi is native to Europe, while Rhagoletis cingulata is native to North America. Both species attack cultivated cherries (Prunus avium) and can also infest other Prunus species.

The adult kirsikkakärpänen is a small, black fly, typically around 4-5 millimeters in length, with distinctive yellow bands on its abdomen and clear wings marked with dark bands. The life cycle begins in the spring when adult flies emerge from the soil where they overwintered as pupae. Mating and egg-laying occur shortly after emergence. Females deposit tiny white eggs singly in the developing fruit, usually on the sunny side.

Upon hatching, the larvae, which are small, white, legless maggots, burrow into the cherry flesh and feed on the pulp. A single fruit can be infested by several larvae. The feeding activity of the larvae causes the fruit to ripen prematurely, become soft, discolored, and develop a bitter taste. Infested cherries often drop from the tree before they can be harvested. After completing their larval development, typically within 3-4 weeks, the maggots exit the fruit and burrow into the soil to pupate, completing the life cycle. Control measures often involve monitoring for adult fly emergence and using insecticides or traps to reduce populations.