Atherigona reversura

Villeneuve, 1936

Bermudagrass Stem Maggot, shoot-fly

Atherigona reversura is a muscid shoot commonly known as the bermudagrass stem . to Central and Southeast Asia, it has become an agricultural pest in the Americas, causing significant damage to bermudagrass and stargrass forage systems. The was first detected in Hawaii, then spread to the continental United States beginning in 2009, and has since been reported in South America including Argentina and Uruguay. Larval feeding in grass stems causes death of upper leaves, stunted growth, and reduced forage yields.

Atherigona reversura P1280608a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Atherigonareversura by Liza Garcia (talk) (Uploads). Used under a Public domain license.

Atherigona reversura P1120821a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Atherigona reversura: //ˌæθɛrɪˈɡoʊnə ˌriːvərˈsjʊərə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

distinguished by small size, -gray coloration, and angular . Larval damage is diagnostic: upper two to three leaves die while lower remains green, resembling frost damage. Cutting open stem below dead leaves reveals tunneling and possibly the . Fields with fine-stemmed bermudagrass (Coastal, Alicia, Russell, common) show higher rates than coarse-stemmed varieties. Distinguished from other Atherigona by association with Cynodon and geographic distribution.

Images

Habitat

Agricultural and rural areas cultivating bermudagrass or stargrass for forage, hay, or turf. Thrives in improved pastures and hayfields with dense, vigorous grass growth. Not typically a pest in grazed pastures due to livestock consumption of and .

Distribution

to Central and Southeast Asia. to Hawaii (date unclear), continental United States (California 2009, Georgia 2010, Texas 2013, now southeastern US), Mexico, Argentina (2014–2015), and Uruguay. Within the US, increase from south to north seasonally.

Seasonality

build gradually from south to north. Active mid-June in Central Florida, late July in North Georgia. Multiple per year with completing in approximately 2–3 weeks. lifespan 21–28 days.

Diet

feed on tender tissues of new grass shoots, specifically at the node where the stem emerges. limited to bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) and stargrass (Cynodon nlemfuensis). do not feed on material.

Host Associations

Cynodon dactylon - primary Bermudagrass; forage grass with economic value for livestock
Cynodon nlemfuensis - primary Stargrass

Life Cycle

laid on underside of leaves. emerge after approximately 2.5 days, move to stem node, and feed internally causing leaf death. Feeding damage visible after 1–3 days. Larvae exit stem, drop to ground, and pupate in soil for 7–10 days before . Total development from egg to adult approximately 2–3 weeks. Several per year.

Behavior

females oviposit on leaf undersides. are internal feeders, tunneling in grass stems at nodes. Larvae leave stems to pupate in soil. Adults are strong fliers and disperse to new fields. Not problematic in grazed pastures because livestock consume and larvae with grass, preventing buildup.

Ecological Role

Agricultural pest causing significant yield loss in grazing and hay production systems. Feeding halts shoot elongation, stunts growth, and delays dry matter accumulation. Repeated attack on regrowth shoots compounds damage. No known ecological functions.

Human Relevance

Major economic pest of bermudagrass forage systems. Damage results in reduced hay yields and quality, with fields appearing frost-damaged. Management involves harvesting to break and applying 7–10 days after cutting to protect regrowth. Research ongoing on , biology, and to improve management.

Similar Taxa

Other Atherigona species contains ~300 ; A. reversura distinguished by to Cynodon and geographic range
Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)Also damages bermudagrass but is a with , not internal stem feeder; causes complete rather than selective upper leaf death

More Details

Cultivar Susceptibility

All bermudagrass are susceptible, but those with high shoot numbers, small shoot diameter, and narrow leaves show higher preference. Tifton 85 and other coarse-stemmed varieties experience less frequent though still potentially significant damage, especially late season.

Management Research Needs

Effective sampling methods for or are unknown. for have not been established. Current recommendations based on damage observation rather than predictive .