Atherigona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Atherigona |
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| Atherigona reversura | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Muscidae |
| Genus: | Atherigona Rondani, 1856 |
Atherigona is a group of small flies that belong to the family called Muscidae. These flies are found all over the world. While many flies are harmless, some Atherigona species are known as "shoot flies" because their young (larvae) can cause problems for important food crops.
What Are Shoot Flies?
Shoot flies are a type of Atherigona fly whose larvae (the worm-like stage before they become adult flies) feed on the young shoots of plants. This can damage the plants, especially cereals like rice, maize, and different types of millet. When these flies attack, they can stop the plants from growing properly, which can be a big problem for farmers.
Common Shoot Fly Pests
Many different Atherigona species are known to be pests. Here are some of the most important ones and the crops they affect:
- Atherigona approximata (pearl millet shoot fly): This fly targets pearl millet and sorghum.
- Atherigona atripalpis (foxtail millet shoot fly): It affects foxtail millet.
- Atherigona biseta: This species can harm foxtail millet and Setaria viridis.
- Atherigona falcata (barnyard millet shoot fly): It attacks different types of barnyard millet and Panicum sumatrense.
- Atherigona hyalinipennis (teff shoot fly): This fly is a pest of teff crops.
- Atherigona miliaceae (finger millet shoot fly or little millet shoot fly): It affects finger millet, little millet, and proso millet.
- Atherigona naqvii (wheat stem fly): This fly can damage wheat and maize.
- Atherigona orientalis (tomato fly or pepper fruit fly): This species is known to affect tomatoes and peppers.
- Atherigona oryzae (rice shoot fly): It targets rice, Paspalum scrobiculatum, wheat, and maize.
- Atherigona pulla (proso millet shoot fly): This fly affects proso millet, little millet, Paspalum scrobiculatum, and foxtail millet.
- Atherigona punctata (Coimbatore wheat stem fly): This species mainly affects wheat.
- Atherigona reversura (bermudagrass stem maggot): This fly is a pest of bermudagrass and other turf grasses.
- Atherigona simplex (kodo millet shoot fly): It affects Paspalum scrobiculatum, also known as kodo millet.
- Atherigona soccata (sorghum shoot fly): This fly is a major pest of sorghum, maize, and finger millet.
