Is this a fruit fly?

[2dogs2000]

In September I picked these leaves from the orchard to photograph later. Which I did and then left them in the tub. When I looked a few days later it was full of these little tiny flies. I am assuming they came from the 'eggs' on the leaf but there was also compost in the tub. Any help on i.d. please.

[JRsbugs]

The fly looks like a Sciarid, they do hatch out from damp compost. I can't see the wing venation to be sure, but the head looks to be the correct shape for a Sciarid.

Have you checked the leaves to see if the galls look empty?

Janet

[2dogs2000]

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

Have you checked the leaves to see if the galls look empty?

Janet

No I haven't I had originally assumed they had come from the galls and so I threw the leaves away. It was only later that I thought they might have come from the compost. The compost had been in the tub for about a month and the leaves for a few days when the flies appeared.

[JRsbugs]

Originally Posted by 2dogs2000

No I haven't I had originally assumed they had come from the galls and so I threw the leaves away. It was only later that I thought they might have come from the compost. The compost had been in the tub for about a month and the leaves for a few days when the flies appeared.

Aha, lesson learnt! I don't suppose you know where the leaves are?

If the compost had been there a month, my guess is that is where the flies came from. It doesn't really look like the type of fly you might get in a gall, but I'm not an expert on that!

[2dogs2000]

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

Aha, lesson learnt! I don't suppose you know where the leaves are?

If the compost had been there a month, my guess is that is where the flies came from. It doesn't really look like the type of fly you might get in a gall, but I'm not an expert on that!

I am always learning (and often forgetting ). Thank you for your help.

[poschiavanus]

If the leaf is a pear the gall is European Pear Rust Gymnosporangium sabinae (=fuscum). Pretty common on cultivated and wildling pears. The RHS has info about it on their site.

[2dogs2000]

Originally Posted by poschiavanus

If the leaf is a pear the gall is European Pear Rust Gymnosporangium sabinae (=fuscum). Pretty common on cultivated and wildling pears. The RHS has info about it on their site.

There is a 1:3 chance of it being pear and it looks like you are spot on with your i.d.
I thought it was the eggs of flies What do I know? Thank you that is something else I have learnt today.