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

Search
Resources
bulletChristmas trees
bulletField crops
bulletFruit
bulletHome and yard
bulletNursery and landscape
bulletTurfgrass
bulletVegetable

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

Organizations
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