159 



the wings a clear^honey yellow, and the eyes reddish with 

 opalef-c?nt changes. There are many species of these in the 

 West Indies, belonging to the genus Drosophila. The 

 parent fly deposits eggs in ripe fruit, where the larvae very 

 rapidly develop. The life-cycle of these insects is 

 extremely short, only about ten days being required for the 

 completion of the entire development, from the laying of the 

 eggs to the appearance of the adult insects. Fig. 168 shows 

 Drosophila ampelophila, Loew., which is very common in 

 the* United States. 





Fig. 168. Ripe fruit fly. 



(a) adult : {b) antenna of same : (c) base of tibia and first tarsal joint of 

 s imc; (d) puparium, side view ; (e) puparium, from above ; (f) full grown 

 larva; (g) oral spiracles of same. Enlarged. (From U. S. JDept. Agric.) 



The most satisfactory method of controlling these flies 

 is to remove over-ripe fruit, and to protect all other 

 fruit by means of a fine muslin. Fruit on tlie table may be 

 protected by a sj^ecial dish cover, made by stretching muslin 

 on a suitable frame, and larders may be equipped with a 

 compartment enclosed in muslin, in which to keep fruit. 



