Deciphering the Population Ecology of Blossom Midge, Contarinia maculipennis Felt: An Emerging Threat to Tuberose Cultivation in India
The blossom midge Contarinia maculipennis is a devastating pest of ornamental and vegetable crops, yet its population ecology remains poorly understood. This study employs an age-stage two-sex life table model to analyze its life history with additional focus on below-ground soil environment. Tuberose (Agave amica), a newly identified host, was selected for study. The average fecundity of C. maculipennis was 39.13 eggs, with an intrinsic rate of increase (r) of 0.137, and a mean generation time (T) of 19.73 days. The population doubling time was 5.05 days, with the highest survival rate observed in the first instar larvae (0.95), and the lowest in the adult stage (< 0.38). The population doubling time was 5.05 days. Survival was highest in first-instar larvae (0.95) and lowest in adults (< 0.38). Life expectancy peaked at age zero (e0 =15.57 days) and decreased with pivotal age. The reproductive value (Vx) peaked between 13 and 19 days post-field appearance. Pupal development was fastest, with a significantly higher adult-emergence recorded in sandy clay loam soil (9.67 days); however pupal development and adult-emergence were severely impacted in black cotton and marshy soils. Moderate soil moisture (20%) favored pupation and eclosion rate, while dry (10%) and saturated (30%) soils hindered pupation and emergence. Population projections over 90 days, starting with 133 eggs, estimated an adult population of 3,80738. These findings highlight pupal and adult stages as critical targets for management. Soil type and moisture strongly influence population dynamics, with strategies such as maintaining dry conditions between rows, deep ploughing to bury pupae, and mass trapping recommended for effective control. These insights offer practical strategies for the sustainable management of C. maculipennis.