Rivellia apicalis Hendel, 1934

Whittington, Andrew E., 2019, The economic significance of the signal fly genus Rivellia Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Platystomatidae), Israel Journal of Entomology (Oxford, England) 49 (2), pp. 135-160 : 154

Rivellia apicalis Hendel, 1934 and R. basilaris (Wiedemann, 1830)

The species is primarily associated with soybean ( Glycine max ) in Hokkaido and Kyushyu, Japan ( Koizumi 1957; Kobayashi 1981). Koizumi (1957) also noted that adult R. apicalis feed on aphid honeydew and are often in mixed populations with R. basilaris . Kurosawa and Matsumoto (1961) observed R. apicalis , R. nigricans and an unidentified species of Rivellia in a newly cultivated patch of soybean at Sapporo, Japan.

Rivellia apicalis was also recorded from Vigna angularis (Willd.) Ohwi & Ohashi (Azuki bean and common bean plants such as scarlet runner) ( Suzuki & Mori 1963). Chemical controls were proposed and tested in India by Bhattacharjee (1977). In addition Sugiyama and Mochizuki (1949) and Chiku and Miyashita (1957) each list an undetermined species of Rivellia associated with failing soybean ( Glycine max ) crops respectiVely in Hokuriku and Ina, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.

R. basilaris was noted as a pest of fruit of eggplant ( Solanum melongena ) at Kangton in China ( Koizumi 1957); R. nr. basilaris on soybean in Australia and New Zealand ( Kogan et al. 1997).

Oh et al. (2017) reported decrease in total numbers of R. apicalis on both Vitamin E enhanced transgenic soybean (GM 1208-3-30) and the Williams 82 Variety compared to the Seoritae, black soybean variety, suggesting that there may be variety based solutions to root nodule fly control.