The complex of gall-forming organisms and cecidomyids of mango in the Island of Reunion.
Hugon R.
Congress on the control of insects in the tropical environment. Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Marseilles, 13-16 March 1979. Report of the proceedings. Part I. Tropical crops. Part II. Human and animal health.: Congres sur la lutte contre les insect : 413-422
Abstract : Erosomyia mangiferae Felt was found infesting mango in Reunion in 1974, but the multiplicity of types of galls found on the plants suggested that more than one kind of cecidomyiid may be present. Damage to mango spread in the island until by 1978 the pests were present almost everywhere. A study of the kinds of galls present showed that there were 2 on the leaves and 2 on the stems. Galls found on both surfaces of the leaves were caused by Procontarinia matteiana Kieff. & Cecconi. The midge developed entirely within the gall, but the damage caused did not generally threaten the life of the plant. Another kind of leaf gall, more discrete and comprising a slight thickening of the epithelial tissues, sheltered a larva lying in the arc of a circle. It was found only on young leaves, and on completion of its development the larva left the leaf and pupated in the soil. The empty gall dried out and became detached, leaving a hole in the leaf. On young vegetative and flowering stems, galls similar to those that have been described for E. mangiferae were found. Another, larger, type of gall was observed on older stems in one orchard in Reunion. It led to wilting of the branch and its flowers, threatening the productivity of the tree. Tests with insecticides in sprays on the plants were not promising against gall-forming cecidomyiids, but others with soil-applied insecticides were more promising.