Forage-pest
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Atherigona reversura
Bermudagrass Stem Maggot, shoot-fly
Atherigona reversura is a muscid shoot fly commonly known as the bermudagrass stem maggot. Native to Central and Southeast Asia, it has become an invasive agricultural pest in the Americas, causing significant damage to bermudagrass and stargrass forage systems. The species 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.