Rosy Apple Aphid vs Apple Maggot Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Rosy Apple Aphid | Apple Maggot Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dysaphis plantaginea | Rhagoletis pomonella |
| Order | Hemiptera | Diptera |
| Family | Aphididae | Tephritidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Orchards | Orchards |
| Diet | Fruit Feeders | Fruit Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, North America, Western Asia | Eastern North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Rosy Apple Aphid
A purplish-gray aphid covered in a dusky waxy bloom that causes severe leaf curling and fruit deformation on apple trees. It is considered the most damaging aphid pest of apples.
Did You Know?
Even small colonies in spring can cause 'aphid apples' - stunted, misshapen fruit with a characteristic bumpy surface that makes them unmarketable.
Apple Maggot Fly
A fruit fly pest whose larvae tunnel through apple flesh causing brown trails. It is a textbook example of sympatric speciation by host plant shifting.
Did You Know?
It shifted from native hawthorn to introduced apple trees in under 200 years, creating genetically distinct races.