Integrated pest management resources for Michigan Michigan State University home IPM Michigan home
IPM Scouting in Woody Landscape Plants

Search

Christmas trees
Field crops
Fruit
Home and yard
Nursery and landscape
Turfgrass
Vegetable


Diagnostic Services
Soil/Plant Nutrient Lab
Enviro-weather
Regional IPM Center
Pesticide safety
Organic: New Ag Network
Invasive species
Sustainable ag & food systems


MSU ANR departments
MSU Extension

Site index
Contacts/permissions
Cecidomyiids
IPM scouting in woody landscape plants > predatory flies > cecidomyiids
Cecidomyiid larvae are small (2 to 3 mm long) legless, and bright orange in color. They feed on aphids and spider mites. They inject a paralyzing toxin into the aphid’s leg joints then suck out the aphid’s body contents through the thorax. When aphid populations are high, these predators may kill many more aphids (4 to 65 per day) than they can eat.
Cecidomyiid larvae Bright orange cecidomiid larvae feeding on aphids. Only the larvae are predaceous. Adults are small, black delicate-looking midges.

Additional information

  • MSU Landscape Alert newsletters for information about the current growing season, pest concerns and plant advice.
This information was developed from A Pocket IPM Scouting Guide for Woody Landscape Plants by Diane Brown-Rytlewski. Purchase this in a pocket-sized guide for reference in the orchard from MSU Extension (publication E-2839).
The MSU IPM Program maintains this site as an access point to pest management information at MSU. The IPM Program is administered within the Department of Entomology, fueled by research from the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, delivered to citizens through MSU Extension, and proud to be a part of Project GREEEN.
Email the web developer.
Updated 7/11/07