Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 March 2009
The phenology of the emergence of brassica pod midge from overwintering sites previously sown with spring oil-seed rape and its subsequent infestation of spring rape crops was studied over 3 years. Adults emerged from the overwintering sites from mid-May until early July, but infestation of spring rape did not begin until late June. Two generations occurred on spring rape. Mature larvae dropped from the pods almost daily from early to mid-July until mid-August to early September to form cocoons in the soil. A small proportion of these larvae developed into pupae and emerged as a second generation of adults to lay further eggs in the crops. Larvae from these eggs dropped to the soil to diapause within cocoons.