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Contarinia icardiflores
Scientists at ICAR-Directorate of Floricultural Research, Pune identified Contarinia icardiflores as a new blossom midge pest affecting jasmine crops in India. The pest damages flower buds, leading to yield and income losses for growers.
Contarinia icardiflores (Blossom Midge Pest):
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Contarinia icardiflores |
| Discovered By | Scientists at ICAR Directorate of Floricultural Research Pune |
| Genus | Belongs to Contarinia genus known to attack floral buds blossoms or inflorescences of horticultural and agricultural crops |
| Size | Approximately 1.5 to 2 millimetres |
| Host Crop | Infests flower buds of Jasminum sambac |
| Damage Mechanism | Larvae feed inside buds causing swelling discolouration and rotting before blossoming |
| Life Cycle | Completes life cycle in about 16 to 21 days |
| Genetic Distinction | Genetically distinct from Contarinia maculipennis confirmed through sequencing of mitochondrial COI gene regions |
| Geographical Impact | Emerging pest threat in Maharashtra Tamil Nadu Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka |