Diagnosis

Morphological – adult

Overall body colour predominantly black with yellow scutellum. Abdomen with pale/white transverse bands. Rhagoletis species are diagnosed primarily on wing patterns. The wing of R. cingulata possesses a broad dark fuscous band from anterior margin to hind margin in centre of wing, an inverted ‘U’-shaped dark fuscous pattern across apex and apex of R₄₊₅; may be connected or disconnected to main band. Accessory band is absent.

Morphological – larvae

See Pest Fruit Flies of the World – Larvae.

Molecular

Host Range

A significant pest in commercial cherries in the eastern half of USA, attacking Prunus cerasus (sour cherry), Prunus avium (sweet cherry) and Prunus serotina (black cherry).

Distribution

North America

Native to North America.

Distribution in the USA is widespread, but this species is absent from several states; the map as presented does not represent true geographic distributions within the USA.

Present in Canada (Ontario, Quebec), northern and central Mexico, eastern USA

Europe

Austria, Belgium, Britain, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland

Similar species

Rhagoletis cingulata is morphologically close to Rhagoletis indifferens, both species belonging to the cingulata species group. R. cingulata has fore coxa yellow, anterior apical crossband on wing often reduced to an isolated spot (the stipple in the drawing shows possible joined condition); R. indifferens has fore coxa shaded black on posterior surface, anterior apical crossband rarely reduced to an isolated spot (CABI).

Pest Status

• Exotic
• A significant pest of cherries in USA

Attractant/Lure

No known species.