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Abstract
Since first being discovered in southern Georgia in July 2010, the bermudagrass stem maggot (BSM; Atherigona reversura Villeneuve) has infested and damaged forage bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) throughout the southeastern United States. Our objectives for this presentation were to summarize the available literature on this new, invasive species and provide additional insight from what is currently known about other Atherigona spp. The BSM, along with other Atherigona spp., are small, muscid flies native to Central and Southeast Asia. The adult fly of the BSM lays its eggs on bermudagrass leaves. Upon hatching, the BSM larva slips into the sheath, down the tiller, and penetrates the pseudostem at the first node. The BSM larva then feeds on the vascular tissue, sap, and (potentially) the subsequent decaying plant material before exiting the tiller, pupating in the soil, and emerging as a fly. As a result of the larval feeding, bermudagrass exhibits senescence and necrosis of the terminal leaves on the affected shoots. The affected leaves are easily pulled out of the sheath and show obvious damage near the affected node. In severe infestations, over 80% of the tillers in a given area may be affected. There is a paucity of information about the lifecycle of A. reversura and how it can be managed or controlled, but some information is available on basic larva behavior, fly physiology, and the potential differences in resistance among some bermudagrass varieties. Additional research is underway to better understand the lifecycle of this species, confirm and quantify the degree of preference A. reversura has for the different bermudagrass varieties, and quantify the severity of damage in yield, quality, and aesthetics.