272 



Journal of Agricultural Research 



Vol. Ill, No. 3 



THE ADULT 



The adults of the melon fly have proved most interesting from the 

 standpoint of general hardiness, longevity, and oviposition. 



Longevity.— At the present time (Aug. 30, 191 4) the writers have 

 about 205 adults that emerged on February 17. They are, therefore, 6 

 months and 14 days old and are as strong and vigorous in appearance 

 and action as when they emerged. Of the 248 adults ahve on June 19, 

 but 15 females and 28 males have died to date. If the death rate con- 

 tinues as low in the future, a few adults will probably live to be a year old. 



Sexual, maturity. — Neither male nor female melon flies are sexually 

 mature when they emerge from the pupa. Out of about 200 individuals 

 emerging on May 24, one pair was noted in coition on June 13, or 20 

 days after emergence. Among a second lot of adults, emerging on 

 May 23, no adults mated until June 16, when two pairs were seen in 

 coition. The majority of females in these lots did not mate until fully 

 25 days old. The daily mean temperatures for the period from May 

 23 to June 16 averaged 75.5° F. Sexual activity begins only at sunset. 

 From sunset to dark copulation occurs and lasts in many instances until 

 daybreak. 



Oviposition. — At mean temperatures averaging 75.5° F., females 

 did not begin egg laying until about one month after eclosion. While 

 fruit was placed in jars with about 1,000 adults which emerged from 

 May 23 to 25, no attempts at oviposition were noted until June 23, 

 when 1 2 punctures containing no eggs were made in a mango by females 

 that emerged on May 24. The first eggs, 12 in number, were laid on 

 June 25, or 32 days after eclosion. No eggs were obtained from females 

 that emerged from May 25 until June 28, or 34 days after eclosion. 



Daily rate of oviposition. — While females do not begin ovipositing 

 until about i month old, they continue to lay eggs for a long period. 

 Thus, in Table IV is recorded the daily rate of oviposition of seven 

 females during the first three months after emergence, while in Table 

 V is recorded that of three females during the fourth, fifth, and sixth 

 months of their life. 



Table IV. — Daily rate of ovipositioti of the melon flies thai emerged ort May 25 and were 

 placed separately with fruit on June 25, igi4 



