<54 . ORANGE FLY. 



It is further mentioned that the pest is a " day-light " 

 fly, which is a serviceable matter to know relatively to 

 preventive measures. 



The only known method of preserving fruit from this 

 attack appears to be protecting it by tying it up in calico 

 or muslin bags : thus the fruit has been found to escape 

 attack and be free from maggots ; but the plan is not 

 practicable on the scale of orchard growing, and, in 

 regard to its habits on the bushes, Prof. Westwood, in 

 the paper above mentioned (quoting from various 

 observers specified), mentions that in the Island of 

 Mauritius it was found generally by M. Desjardins on 

 the leaves of the orange. Also that Dr. Heineker, who 

 found the insect in Madeira, " observed it at rest as 

 though basking, and with the wings expanded on the 

 leaves of some thick shrubs." "It had the manners 

 and appearance of an insect of very confined locomotive 

 power and activity," and he seldom saw it upon the wing 

 farther than passing from shrub to shrub. 



One main point of information that is wanted to 

 check attack is Where does the maggot in natural cir- 

 cumstances undergo its changes to the chrysalis state ? 



In various observations, taken from gathered or 

 imported fruit, the change has taken place inside or upon 

 the fruit; but in the case of the "Apple Maggot" of 

 America, the Trypeta pomonella, Walsh, which, as a 

 fruit-feeder and one of the Trypetidce, may be conjectured 

 to be very similar to the S. African fly in its habits, the 

 change is recorded by Matthew T Cooke and Prof. Saunders, 

 and also by Prof. Lintner, as taking place in the earth. 

 It is stated by Prof. Saunders that " When about to 

 change the maggot leaves the apple, and, falling to the 

 ground, burrows under the surface and there enters the 

 chrysalis state, in which condition it remains until the 

 middle of the following summer, when the perfect insect 

 escapes in the form of a four-winged fly."* 



* ' Insects Injurious to Fruit,' by Prof. Saunders, p. 135. Philadel- 

 phia, 1883. 



