Paddy Gall-Midge: Orseolia oryzae Wood - Mason (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

Kannada name: Kane

Vernacular name: Aane kombu

In Karnataka infestation is noticed in seed beds and 30 - 40 days old transplanted crop in Karavali and Malnad areas (High rainfall areas).

Period of occurrence: Seedling to Panicle Initiation stage

Extent of yield loss: 50 %

Alternate hosts: Wild rice, such as Oryza rufipogon are common alternate hosts

Damaging stage of the insect: Maggot

Factors favouring insect damage:

• Cloudy or rainy weather, cultivation of high-tillering varieties,

Eggs: It lays up to 250 eggs singly or in clusters either on leaves or stems.                 

Incubation period: 1-3 days.

	Maggots: The maggots are reddish or yellowish, enter into growing point and damage by laceration.
	Pupa
	Adult: Adult is a small delicate fly, resembling mosquitoes; body is bright red or yellowish brown with long legs. Female has bright orange-red abdomen while male is dark in colour.

Damage symptoms:

• The maggot feed on the apical point of the central shoot.
• It resembles as an onion leaf glistens in the field and central shoot is converted to long tubular structure known as galls or silver shoots. 

                      

                            Gall formation                                                    Onion shoot