Cherry fruit flies
Insect
Cherry fruit flies
Rhagoletis fausta (Osten Sacken)Rhagoletis cingulate (Loew)
Diptera: Tephritidae
Distribution: One or both species occur in most fruit-growing states and provinces in eastern North America, but R. fausta reaches only as far south as PA.
Black cherry fruit fly Rhagoletis fausta (Osten Sacken) Cherry fruit fly Rhagoletis cingulate (Loew) The adult cherry fruit fly is somewhat smaller than the house fly, with a yellowish brown head and legs, and white crossbands on the abdomen (A). The black cherry fruit fly is slightly larger and its abdomen is entirely black (B). The wings of both species are clear with characteristic markings; the bands on the black cherry fruit fly wings are darker and wider, with a characteristic "doughnut-hole" marking. Larvae of both species are cream-colored maggots with no legs or visible head; the posterior end is blunt, and the front end tapers to a point with 2 dark mouth hooks (C).