Flight Activity and Oviposition of the Cabbage Maggot, Delia radicum (Diptera: Anthomyiidae), in Relation to Damage to Rutabagas

Correlation between captures of cabbage maggot adults, Delia radicum (L.), on sticky boards and eggs deposited on rutabaga roots over two seasons was significant Correlation between egg numbers recovered from roots and subsequent damage was also high and significant. However, the relationship between flies captured on sticky boards and damage to roots was not clearly defined. Use of fly numbers recorded from sticky boards to predict damage cannot be fully supported from this investigation. Additional factors including oviposition behavior of females and mortality factors affecting eggs and larvae must be investigated before such a monitoring technique could provide accurate predictions.