They emerge as adults from July through September. The adults must feed for a period of 7-10 days in order to reach sexual maturity. After this period, they are attracted to fruit, where they mate and the females lay eggs. There is one generation per year. It has a black abdomen.
Females have four white bands on the abdomen.
The smaller males have three bands. The wings are clear but are marked with black bands. Because of their close resemblance to these insects, entomologists must dissect them to confirm their identity. Since apple maggot renders apples virtually inedible and no completely effective cultural or biological control techniques exist as yet, chemical control becomes essential if this pest has been detected in your fruit. The names of currently recommended spray products can be obtained from your local County Extension office .