Anthomyiid-fly
Guides
Delia radicum
cabbage root fly, cabbage maggot, spring cabbage fly, smaller cabbage fly
Delia radicum is a significant agricultural pest fly in the family Anthomyiidae, commonly known as the cabbage root fly or cabbage maggot. The larval stage causes damage by tunneling into roots and lower stems of cruciferous crops, while adults are small, grayish flies that emerge in spring. The species has a Holarctic distribution, occurring across Europe, North Africa, Asia, and North America. Research has documented complex interactions with microbial symbionts including Wolbachia and gut microbiota, which influence host fitness and plant-insect chemical ecology.