2 THE MEDITERRANEAN FRUIT-FLY. 



piled from the writings of entomologists in countries where the 

 insect exists, particularly the writings of Froggatt, French, and 

 Fuller in Australia, and Lounsbury and Mally in Cape Colony, 

 South Africa. 



There can be no question that the Mediterranean fruit-fly is a most 

 serious drawback to the successful cultivation of fruit in the coun- 

 tries where it is established. Indeed, the cultivation of fruits is 

 scarcely possible in the worst infested regions. The fruit-growing 

 industry of Bermuda was practically destroyed many years ago by 

 the introduction of the insect into that island. Its introduction into 

 the United States in all probability would be calamitous to the 

 orchard interests of our more southern States and of California, in 

 which regions it would find conditions very similar to those in coun- 

 tries where it now exists in most destructive numbers. 



This species belongs to a group of insects — the family Tryi^etida? 

 of the order Diptera, or flies — for which no very successful means 

 of control have been found. Despite a large amount of experimenta- 

 tion in the control of this as well as other related species, including 

 our own apple maggot or railroad worm {Rhagoletls pomonella 

 Walsh), little has been developed that is of value in lessening their 

 injurs^, except the collection and destruction of fallen infested fruit 

 and the more recent use in South Africa of a j)oisoned bait sprayed 

 over the trees for the destruction of the adult flies. 



In view of the very serious character of the pest and the great 

 difficulty in its control, it is most urgent that all possible pains 

 should be taken to prevent its introduction into tliis country. The 

 energetic measures taken by the Hawaiian and California authorities 

 are much to be commended. 



COMMON AND SCIENTIFIC NAMES. 



The name " Mediterranean fruit-fly " was first given to this insect 

 by Froggatt, who believed that the insect had probably been intro- 

 duced into Australia from the region of the Mediterranean. It has, 

 however, been given numerous other common names, as the peach fly, 

 peach maggot, etc. The species has been twice redescribed since first 

 characterized by "Wiedmann in 1824, and the synonymy stands as 

 follows : 



1824. Tephritis capitata Wiedemaun, Aualecta Eutomologica, p. 55. 

 1829. Ceratiti.s citrlpcrda Macleay. Zoological Journal, vol. 4, p. 475. 

 1842. Ceratiti.s Jtispanicn de Breme, Aunales de la Societe Entomologiqiie de 

 France, vol. 11, p. 183. 



Some authors also consider Cei'atitis cattoirei Guerin as identical 

 with or a mere variety of capitata. 



The species has been variously referred by authors to the genera 

 Tephritis, Trypeta, Ceratitis, Petalophora, Halterophora, etc., but 

 Ceratitis appears to be the latest reference. 



