Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) ➔ Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods) ➔ Class Insecta (Insects) ➔ Order Diptera (True flies) ➔ Family Tephritidae (Fruit flies)

Rhagoletis cerasi (Linnaeus, 1758)

Kirschfruchtfliege Cherry Fruit Fly

Synonyms and other combinations:

Musca cerasi Linnaeus, 1758 | Rhagoletis fasciata Rohdendorf, 1961 | Rhagoletis nigripes Rohdendorf, 1961 | Rhagoletis obsoleta Hering, 1936 | Tephritis ceraci Persson, 1958 | Trypeta signata Meigen, 1826 | Urophora cerasorum Dufour, 1845 | Urophora liturata Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 |

  • Rhagoletis cerasi 8320
    Rhagoletis cerasi (Linnaeus, 1758)  Kirschfruchtfliege  Cherry Fruit Fly 
    Rhagoletis cerasi
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2018-06-16 15:54:36
    Image number: 8320

    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2018-06-16 15:54:36
  • Rhagoletis cerasi 9503
    Rhagoletis cerasi (Linnaeus, 1758)  Kirschfruchtfliege  Cherry Fruit Fly 
    Rhagoletis cerasi
    DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark; 2020-07-14 15:41:41
    Image number: 9503

    DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
    2020-07-14 15:41:41
  • Rhagoletis cerasi 9504
    Rhagoletis cerasi (Linnaeus, 1758)  Kirschfruchtfliege  Cherry Fruit Fly 
    Rhagoletis cerasi
    DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark; 2020-07-14 15:42:02
    Image number: 9504

    DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
    2020-07-14 15:42:02

Further vernacular names:
European Cherry Fruit Fly
Classification:
Rhagoletis cerasi belongs to the subfamily Trypetinae, tribe Carpomyini.
Distribution:
Europe, Asia
Description:
The Cherry Fruit Fly Rhagoletis cerasi has a body length of 4 - 5 mm. The scutellum is yellow. The wings show a characteristic dark pattern.
The white larvae grow up to 6 mm long. The size of the pupae is 3 - 4 mm.
Biology:
The imagines of the Cherry Fruit Fly Rhagoletis cerasi fly in one generation from mid-May to the end of July.
Host plants of the Cherry Fruit Fly are different species of the genera Prunus (Rosaceae: P. cerasus, P. avium, P. serotina, P. mahaleb) and Lonicera (Caprifoliaceae: L. xylosteum, L. tatarica, L. alpigena). About 2 weeks after flowering, the females of the Cherry Fruit Fly begin to lay their eggs in the ripening fruits. Normally only one egg is laid per fruit,. A marker pheromone is used to inform subsequent females that the fruit is already occupied and thus prevents the laying of further eggs in the same fruit. Approximately 10 days after laying the eggs, the larvae hatch. These feed on the pulp near the stone for about 3 weeks. The adult larvae leave the fruit, fall to the ground and pupate at a depth of 2 to 3 cm. The pupae hibernate. The new generation hatches in May. A small part of the pupae can also survive longer in the ground and only hatch in the following years.
Note:
Since the larvae of Rhagoletis cerasi develop in cherries, their occurrence can lead to large losses in the cultivation of sweet cherries.

References, further reading, links:
  1. Pape T. & Thompson F.C. (eds) (2017). Systema Dipterorum (version 2.0, Jan 2011). In: Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life, 2017 Annual Checklist (Roskov Y., Abucay L., Orrell T., Nicolson D., Bailly N., Kirk P.M., Bourgoin T., DeWalt R.E., Decock W., De Wever A., Nieukerken E. van, Zarucchi J., Penev L., eds.). Digital resource at www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2017. Species 2000: Naturalis, Leiden, the Netherlands. ISSN 2405-884X.
  2. Claudia Daniel, and Jürg Grunder: Integrated Management of European Cherry Fruit Fly Rhagoletis cerasi (L.): Situation in Switzerland and Europe, Insects 2012, 3, 956-988; doi:10.3390/insects304095.6.