354 SOME SOUTH INDIAN INSECTS, ETC. 



superficially similar to those of the House fly. Life-cycle about 

 3 weeks, probably less in warm weather. 



Status.— A. blood-thirsty anil annoying pest of domestic animals, 

 often attacking man also. Undoubtedly carries disease. 



Control. — This must be based on sanitary disposal of horse-dung 

 ami other stable-refuse. 



Remarks, (i) The flies, of which there are several very similar 

 species, are very similar in general appearance to House-flics, but 

 at once recognisable by the long, slender, chitinous proboscis. 



(2) Little is known at present of the lifehistories of this and 

 other Indian Muscid Flies and the descriptions here given must be 

 taken as merely indicative of a very few examples from the large 

 number ol Muscid Flies noxious to man and animals in India. 



TRYPAXEID/E. 



DACUS CUCURBITS, Coq. 

 Dacus cucurbita, Coquillet, Ent. News (1899), 120. 130 ; Lefroy, 

 Ent. Mem. Agri. Dept, Ind., I. 22S ; Howlett, Ind. Ins. Life, f. 4 iS ; 

 Froggatt, Fruit Flies, pp. 84 85, t. 2., it. 6, ;. 



Bactrocera cucurbita, Bezzi, Mem. Ind. Mus., Ill, q6 97. t. 8, I. 7 



(I9I3)- 



(See Plate XVI.) 



Distribution.- Throughout Southern India. 



Lifehistory. Eggs are laid on melons, etc., being thrust just 

 under the skin by the ovipositor of the female fly. The white 

 grubs on hatching burrow into the fruit, tunnelling in it and 

 completely spoiling it. When full-grown they emerge and pupate 

 in the soil. The total life-cycle occupies about 15 days. 



Poodplants. Fruits of Cucurbitaceae (Melons, Pumpkins, Cucum- 

 bers, et< .)• 



Status. A serious pesl of cucurbits. 



Control. -(I) Prompt destruction of all attacked fruits by boiling, 

 burning or burying them deeply underground. It is not of the 

 slightest use to throw the fruit down on the ground as the maggots 

 will emerge in due course as Hies which will attack other fruits. 

 (2) Protection of fruit in small areas by netting, etc. 



Remarks. — This Fruit-fly is given here as a typical example of 

 it- class. At least a dozen different species incur and some of them 

 attack Mangoes, Oranges, Peaches, Guavas, Almonds, etc., the 

 general lifehistory, habits and appearance being the same in all. 

 This group "l flies badly requires to be worked out and the species 

 properly differentiated. In some the flies may be attracted by 



