Click for larger image	Adults: Seedcorn flies resemble small houseflies. They are grayish brown and are about 1/5 inch (5 mm) long.	Click for larger image
	Eggs: The seedcorn fly deposits white, elongated eggs, about 1/25 inch in length, in the soil near decaying vegetable matter. Eggs hatch into maggots 2-3 days after being laid.
	Larvae: The legless maggots age tapered, pale yellowish-white in color, and reach a length of about 1/4 inch (6 mm). Although lacking heads, the maggots do have small black mouth hooks at the sharply pointed front end. Newly hatched larvae feed on and burrow into the seed. Maggots develop through larval stages in 2 to 3 weeks depending on the temperature.
	Pupae: Pupa are dark brown in color and 1/5 inch (5 mm) long. They remain in the soil for 10-14 days before adult emergence. The entire life cycle takes about 3 weeks.

Damage inflicted by seedcorn maggot on corn

Damage inflicted by seedcorn maggot on beans

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Maintained by Jason D. Plate. Last updated Mar. 8th, 2007.