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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Nematocera" (Non-Brachycera) » Gnats, Gall Midges, and March Flies (Bibionomorpha) » Fungus Gnats and Gall Midges (Sciaroidea) » Gall Midges and Wood Midges (Cecidomyiidae) » Gall Midges (Cecidomyiinae) » Cecidomyiidi » Cecidomyiini » Contarinia » Sorghum Midge (Contarinia sorghicola)

Species Contarinia sorghicola - Sorghum Midge

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References
Sorghum Midge - Contarinia sorghicola
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon ("Nematocera" (Non-Brachycera))
Infraorder Bibionomorpha (Gnats, Gall Midges, and March Flies)
Superfamily Sciaroidea (Fungus Gnats and Gall Midges)
Family Cecidomyiidae (Gall Midges and Wood Midges)
Subfamily Cecidomyiinae (Gall Midges)
Supertribe Cecidomyiidi
Tribe Cecidomyiini
Genus Contarinia
Species sorghicola (Sorghum Midge)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Diplosis sorghicola Coquillett, 1899
Explanation of Names
Author: Coquillett
Size
Male: 1.3 mm. Female: 1.6 mm approximately
Identification
The adult is orange; newly hatched larva is colorless; it turns bright orange in later instars.
Range
Worldwide. Introduced from Africa in the 1800s. In the US from Virginia to Florida and as far west as Texas.
Food
Sorghum and Johnson grass are the primary hosts. It has been reported from 14 other grasses.
Life Cycle
It overwinters as a larva in aborted sorghum seeds. Adults emerge in the spring and are attracted to flowers of the host plant. Larvae feed on spikelets and pupate there.
Remarks
Considered a pest of sorghum.
Internet References
TAMU
University of Missouri
North Carolina State University
Contributed by Charley Eiseman on 14 December, 2009 - 7:36pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset
Last updated 11 October, 2010 - 7:50am

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