10 THE MEDITERKANEAN FRUIT-PLY, 



Mr. C. W. Mally, entomologist for the Eastern Province, Cape 

 of Good Hope, South Africa, in the Agricultural Journal, December, 

 1904, states : 



It is difficult to say from wlience the fruit fly carue. It was most likely 

 brought to tlie Cape in fruit from Madeira. How long ago no one can tell ! 

 It is not difficult to find men who were familiar with the depredations of this 

 insect in the coastal belt of the Colony thirty years ago. Until recently the 

 Mediterranean regions were looked upon as the original home of this species, 

 mainly because it had been known to be injurious there for such a long time. 

 If the presence of natural enemies is a safe guide, Mr. Geo. Compere's discov- 

 ery, that this i^ost is kept under almost complete control in Brazil through 

 the agency of natural enemies, would point to that country as the original 

 home. Be that as it may, we are all well aware that the fly has become a 

 constant factor in fruit-growing in Cape Colony. How to prevent its injuries 

 is the demand that has necessitated investigation with a view to establishing 

 the practicability of control measures. The first step is to determine the 

 insects. 



Mr. Geo. Compere, of the California Horticultural Commission, 

 •writing of fruit-flies in the Proceedings of the Thirty-eighth Fruit 

 Growers' Convention, remarks : 



The next species that I wish to call your attention to is CcraUtis capitata, 

 Wied., or, commonly called, the Mediterranean fruit fly. With this species I 

 have had more experience than with any of the other forms, and I can say that 

 it is without question the most destructive fruit pest on record in the world 

 to-day. Not that it is any more destructive to any particular variety of fruit 

 than many of the other species of this group of flies, but it is so, from the 

 extremely wide range of food fruits. While most of the species confine them- 

 selves to one or a few varieties of fruits, this one will attack every known fruit 

 with the exception of the banana, pineapple, and olive. It flourishes in the 

 bitterest of limes and bitter orange the same as it does in the most delicious 

 peach, pear, or apple. 



Writing of the fruit-fly in Hawaii, Mr. E. K. Carnes, as a result 

 of a visit to the islands under the auspices of the California State 

 Commission of Horticulture, states: 



On Oahu the following fruits iind vegetables have been attacked: All species 

 of citrus fruit, peaches, figs, grapes, rose apple, star apple, mangoes, white 

 lemon guuvas. wild guavas, alligator pears (bruised and fallen), strawberry 

 guavas. papaya, saiwta, Cnris.sa ardiiina (South African), also string beans and 

 peppers. 



In addition to this list the known host fruits include : p]ggplant, coffee, plums, 

 cherries, persimmons, grenadillas. maupi fruit, apricots, pears, nectarines, 

 loquats, apples, shaddocks, mandarins, mammee-apples. 



So far the banana and pineapple appear to be immune from attack, but close 

 inspection should be maintained for future development. 



To this list for Hawaii should be added the additional fruits more 

 recently found to be infested, as stated by Mr. AY. M. Giffard (Ha- 

 waiian Forester and Agriculturist, April, 1912), namely: Kumquat 

 {Citrus japonica), Murray a exotica^ and Eugenia sp. Mr. GiflFard 

 adds: 



