Gall midge (Orseolia oryzae, diptera )
- They feed in growing point which turn into gall in the plant such tubular gall dry off without bearing panicle and appear like sliver shoot or onion shoot.
- formation of a hollow cavity or tubular gall at the base of the infested The gall formed is a silvery white hollow tube.
- affected tiller inhibits growth of leaves and fails to produce panicles
- deformed, wilted, and rolled leaf
- elongation of leaf sheaths, also called onion leaf or silvershoot
- plant stunting
Identification
- Egg : Reddish, elongate, tubular eggs just near the ligule of the leaf blade
- Larva : Maggot is pale to red colour feeds inside the
- Pupa : Pupates at the base of the gall and moves to tip of the
- Adult : orange coloured mosquito like fly.
Management
- Early panting and distruction is suitable.
- Biological control agents: platygasterid, eupelmid, and pteromalid wasps (parasitize the larvae), phytoseiid mites (feed on eggs), spiders (feed on adults)
- Apply granular insecticide as in steam borer and also applied in mealy bug .