**7.2 Maggot**

The larval stages of midges are called maggots. There were totally four larval instars. The maggots were narrow with pointed anterior and posterior ends.

**Figure 7.** *Biology of blossom midge,* Contarinia maculipennis.

The maggots on eclosion were dull white in color and turned yellow as the development progressed. The maggots scraped the petals, stamen, and stigma and suck sap from the flower buds. The larval period lasted for 4–5 days. The average larval period observed in *J. sambac, J. auriculatum*, *J. grandiflorum,* and *J. nitidum* was 4.4, 4.2, 4.1, and 3.9 days, respectively.
