1268 



Rural School Leaflet 



THE CHERRY MAGGOTS 



Rhagoletis cingulata 

 Rhagoleiis jausta 



Upper and side views of maggot of the cherry fly. 



enlarged 



Natural size and much 



Appearance of the insects. — There are two kinds of flies that lay their 

 eggs in cherries in New York State and cause maggots in the fniit. Both 

 of them are much alike in appearance. They are smaller than the house 

 fly, and their wings are crossed with dark bands. In one species there is 

 a small clear circular spot on each wing that looks like a bullet hole. The 

 maggots are yellowish white, straight, and about one-fourth of an inch 

 in length. The larva of the plum curculio, which is also found in cherries, 

 is larger and assiunes a more or less curved attitude in tlie fruit. 



Story oj their lives. — The life histories of the flies are ver}- similar. 

 They begin to deposit their eggs in the cherries in June, just about 

 the time that the fruits are reddening. The eggs soon hatch, and the 

 maggots live in the cherries for three or foiir weeks. When full-grown 

 the maggots drop to the ground and buiTow into it to the depth of 

 about one inch. Here they change to brownish oval objects called 

 puparia, and remain until the following June. There is thvis but one 

 generation a year. 



Injury and control. — The best looking cherries may contain maggots 

 although no outward sign of their presence can be seen. The infested 



