CHILLI GALL MIDGE

 

Scientific Name : Asphondylia capsici

Family:Cecidomyiidae

Order:  Diptera

Serious pest in parts of Tamilnadu and Warangal  district (Andhra Pradesh). Noticed only in areas where chilli is grown under irrigated conditions.  

Appearance: Adult light yellowish brown, mosquito like. Full grown maggot is light yellow, very small (about 3 mm in length)pointed at both the ends and legless.

Adult

Nature of damage: Maggots feed on the ovary of the flower bud, flower and tender fruits

Damage symptoms: 

• Affected bud remains unopened, while the affected flower dries and drops
• Severe flower and fruit drop.
• Affected fruits do not develop.       
• Reduction in yield, fruit size, seed number and production of malformed fruits.  

 

Damaged fruits due to Gall midge           Small and deformed fruits

Management:

Chemical Control :  

• 3 ml/l neem based insecticides should be sprayed.     
• Application of acephate 75 SP + DDVP 76 EC @ 250 g+ 250 ml per litre of water.