Rhagoletis pomonella

insect

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Rhagoletis pomonella, commonly known as the apple maggot, is a type of fruit fly whose larvae burrow into and feed on apples. This feeding causes the fruit to become spongy and discolored, leading to significant economic losses, particularly in the northeastern United States.12

These insects belong to the order Diptera and are characterized by banded or spotted brown wings. While many fruit fly species attack cultivated fruits, some are leaf miners or burrow into plant stems. Control methods for pests like the apple maggot include spraying insecticides, destroying infested fruit, and utilizing natural parasites.2

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fruit fly
…apple maggot, the larva of Rhagoletis pomonella, burrows into apples, causing the fruit to become spongy and discoloured. This species and the closely related cherry fruit fly (R. cingulata) cause extensive losses in the northeastern United States.
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…apple maggot, the larva of Rhagoletis pomonella, burrows into apples, causing the fruit to become spongy and discoloured. This species and the closely related cherry fruit fly (R. cingulata) cause extensive losses in the northeastern United States.
Read More

speciation
Sympatric speciation
…in apple maggot flies (Rhagoletis pomonella), a parasitic insect that laid its eggs in the fruit of wild hawthorns (Crataegus) until one subset of the population began to lay its eggs in the fruit of domesticated apple trees (Malus domestica) that grew in the same area. That small group…
Read More
…in apple maggot flies (Rhagoletis pomonella), a parasitic insect that laid its eggs in the fruit of wild hawthorns (Crataegus) until one subset of the population began to lay its eggs in the fruit of domesticated apple trees (Malus domestica) that grew in the same area. That small group…
Read More