1914] Melon Fly, Dacus cucurbitae. 205 
watermelon plants were already infested. Whether the pest, 
which has been allowed to increase unmolested during 
the past sixteen years, can be controlled under Hawaiian 
conditions when one individual sprays and his neighbors 
do not, is problematical. In all probability, better results 
could be obtained with the poisoned bait spray in a well 
isolated cucurbit field away from the valleys where rains are 
less frequent during the summer months. 
Marsh (9, p. 155) tested a poisoned bait spray to control 
the melon fly in the Hawaiian Islands. He writes, ‘‘The baits 
were prepared by sweetening water with molasses and adding to 
the solution arsenate of lead or Paris green. These baits were 
then applied, at frequent intervals, to the foliage of infested 
cucumbers with a gardener’s syringe. With the aid of the syringe 
the poisoned liquids were shot into the air above the beds of 
cucumbers and allowed to fall on the foliage in fine drops. In 
the experiment with Paris green the application was made 
daily from September 9 until October 14. The formula used 
in this experiment was as follows: 
Molasses ee otianct: 
Paris green 14 ounce. 
Water 114 gallon. 
Neither the experiment with arsenate of lead or with Paris 
green proved effective. The flies were frequently observed 
feeding on the poisoned liquids; but evidently they did not 
relish them, and so failed to consume a fatal dose.”’ 
Fuller (6, p. 26) stationed in Natal, South Africa, tested 
the poison bait spray to control the Mediterranean fruit fly and 
melon fly. Trials which have been made in several citrus 
orchards to control the Mediterranean fruit fly with the poisoned 
bait spray “have been attended with remarkable effects, and 
where treatment has been applied for the melon fly which 
attacks, squashes, marrows, pumpkins and the like, it has 
proved equally successful.’’ 
