Cabbage pod mosquito
| Cabbage pod mosquito | ||||||||||||
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Cabbage pod mosquito ( Dasineura brassicae ) |
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| Dasineura brassicae | ||||||||||||
| ( Winnertz , 1853) |
The cabbage pod mosquito ( Dasineura brassicae ) is a species of gall mosquito . Their worm-like larvae live in the pods of oilseed rape and other cruciferous plants .
features
The cabbage pod mosquito is 1.2 to 1.5 mm long, brown-black in color and has a reddish abdomen with brown cross bars. Their larvae, which are 0.5 to 1.5 mm long, are initially glassy, then white, later yellowish-white.
development
The cabbage pod mosquito hibernates as a pupa in the soil of previous year's rape fields. In May, at ground temperatures of 12 to 15 ° C, the mosquito hatches. As soon as pods are formed, even if they are only a few millimeters long, the females fly onto the pod to lay eggs.
Cabbage pod mosquitoes can only cover young pods up to a size of 1 cm with eggs. With older pods they are dependent on the holes caused by the cabbage weevil . The numerous larvae suckle the inner wall of the pods. As with other gall mosquitoes, the pods swell. They turn yellow, twisted, and pop prematurely. This leads to the failure of the seeds. The larvae that are ready to pupate can then leave the pod and migrate into the ground.
Some of the larvae hatch very soon and can once again attack winter rape or other cruciferous plants that are grown as intermediate forage or for green manure . The cabbage pod mosquito does not cover long distances in flight, which is why many rapeseed fields are only infested at the edges. However, they can continue to spread in the second generation.
distribution
The cabbage pod mosquito is widespread in all rapeseed growing areas. However, great damage only occurs if the cabbage weevil is also widespread in this area.
