Flax gall midge

The flax gall midge (Dasineura lini) is a significant agricultural pest belonging to the order Diptera and the family Cecidomyiidae. It is specifically known for its detrimental impact on flax crops, where the larval stage acts as an internal feeder, causing substantial physiological disruption to the plant's reproductive organs.

The primary host for this pest is the flax plant (both fiber and oil flax varieties). Because the insect is highly host-specific, it thrives in fields where flax is grown repeatedly, leading to population build-up over consecutive seasons if appropriate agronomic practices are not implemented to break the lifecycle.

The life cycle of the flax gall midge is synchronized with the development of the flax plant. The midge overwinters as a pupa within the soil profile. As the weather warms during the budding stage of the flax, the adults emerge to mate. Females lay eggs inside the developing buds, which allows the newly hatched larvae to access nutrients immediately.

Damage is characterized by the larvae feeding on the internal tissues of the buds. Affected buds fail to open, turn yellow, deform, and eventually drop off the plant. This loss of flower buds directly translates to a decrease in the number of flax bolls produced, significantly reducing seed yields and potentially impacting the overall growth uniformity of the crop.

• Strict crop rotation with a minimum interval of 4-5 years before replanting flax.
• Deep autumn plowing to bury and destroy overwintering pupae in the soil.
• Selection of early-maturing flax cultivars to escape the peak infestation window.
• Application of registered systemic insecticides timed with the adult flight period.
• Removal of volunteer flax plants that may serve as a reservoir for the pest population.