Pests on leafy vegetables

2. MORINGA

1. Pod fly: Gitona distigma: Drosophilidae: Diptera

• It is a serious pest of moringa in South India.  Activity is maximum from April to October.
• Eggs are Cigar shaped, sculptured and white coloured, laid on the grooves of tender pod either singly or in groups of 3-4.  
• Maggots are cream coloured pupates in soil.
• Adult is a small yellowish fly with red eyes. Wings extend beyond body and have a dark spot near the coastal margin.
• Small-bore holes at the terminal end, oozing out of gummy fluid from fruits, drying of fruits from tip upwards.