ICAR-Directorate of Floricultural Research (ICAR-DFR) Pune discovers new blossom midge pest Contarinia icardiflores damaging jasmine crops in India.

Exam-focused facts from the 25 February 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

Scientists at ICAR-Directorate of Floricultural Research (ICAR-DFR), Pune, discovered Contarinia icardiflores, a new species of blossom midge.
The pest was found causing significant economic losses in jasmine cultivation in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.
Contarinia icardiflores is about 1.5 to 2 mm in size and completes its life cycle in 16 to 21 days.
The species is named in honour of ICAR-DFR to recognise the institute’s contributions to floriculture research.
Although C. icardiflores closely resembles C. maculipennis, the only other midge known to attack jasmine, it is genetically distinct.