2o8 Journal of AgricuLture. [8 May, 1907. 



The Guava Fruit Fly. 



Tephritis psidii. 



r am indebted to INIr. Tryon for museum specimens of this fruit fly, and 

 which I have not seen in its living state. In dealing with this insect Mr. 

 Froggatt remarks: " The fly was bred out on the 4t:h of April from some 

 infected gua\as, which had been condemned by Inspector Butler, who ob- 

 tained them from a cargo from Noumea, New Caledonia. When the guavas 

 were examined about a fortnight before the maggots were very small, so 

 that their development had been very rapid; pro'bablv a month would be 

 long enough for the egg to hatch and evolve the perfect insect. The 

 maggot did not appear to diifer in any point from that of D. tryoni; but as 

 they were examined in an immature state they mav \et develop specific 

 differences. The pupae bury themselves in the soil just below the surface, 

 and when the pupa cases are empty are light yellow, about two lines in 

 length." 



As we have no plate of this insect, I give Mr. Froggatt's description, 

 as the pest may come here from the South Sea Islands. 



" Three lines in length, expanse of wings, 4I lines, head, light brown ; 

 eves, rich metallic purple; antennae, brownish yellow, with the last joint 

 black, long and cylindrical, finely pubescent ; the bristle springing from the 

 apex Oif second joint, stout and long, and a few on the forehead and hind 

 margin of the head. The thorax black, finely shagreened with onl\- a 

 few hairs at the base of the wings; a pale silver grey parallel band runs 

 round the centre, with a pale yellow stripe on either side; the sides of the 

 pio-thorax in front of the wings, and the sides of the meta-thorax marked 

 with creamv white; the scutellum large, angular, broad in front, and 

 thickly margined with pale yellow ; a pair of stout black bristles standing 

 out on the spiral margin ; the legs brownish yellow, clothed with very fine 

 hairs ; tarsal spines and claws black. The wings are hyaline, very slightly 

 clouded at the extreme tip ; nervures blat^k ; the transverse cubital nervure 

 clouded on either side with black, giving it a thickened appearance ; the 

 apical portion of the second costal, the base of the third costal, and the 

 third basal cell clouded with brown. The abdomen turbinate, very narrow 

 at the waist, elongated, widest in the centre and tapering to the extremity, 

 ovipositor consisting of a stout horny process enclosed in a pale yellow 

 sheath, showing a granulated structure.'" 



The New Hebrides Fruit Fly. 



Our plate shows figures of a fruit fly said to be very destructive to 

 bananas and other soft fruits growing in the New Hebrides. The fly, as 

 will be noticed in figure 14 is larger than any of the other fruit flies here 

 mentioned, and particulars as to its identity w-ill be welcomed by economic 

 entomologists both in Australia .and elsewhere. 



Prevention and Remedies. 



In dealing with the subject of fruit fly prevention and remedies, it 

 should Ije understood that our first care should te to keep out the pest if at 

 all possible to do so, and no measures, however strong they may be should 

 be disregarded. The great danger of introducing fruit flies into this State 

 is, first, through the agency of shipping consignments from infested areas ; 

 and secondlv, through the medium of fruit .sent by rail to some of our 



