Appendix. 495 



THE CHERRY FRUIT FLY. 



(Eliagoletis cerasi. Linn.) 



This serious cherry pest on the Continent is recorded by Verrall as 

 British. Whether or not it' -is a true native insect we do not know, or 

 whether the record is purely from the presence of the maggot of this fly 

 in imported fruit. In any case growers know nothing of it, and no one 

 seems to be able to obtain authentic British records, that is, finding the 

 actual creature breeding in this country. 



A short description is appended owing to its serious depredations 011 

 the Continent and the too frequent importation of infested cherries into 

 this country. Fortunately, we do not peel or cut cherries in two ; the 

 result is that the maggots, as a rule, are eaten with the cherries. This, 

 if nasty, is to the benefit of the home grower. 



The fly, which is common in the warmer parts of Europe, can at once 

 be told by its wing markings. 



It appears in May, June and onwards. The female punctures the 

 skin of the cherry obliquely and lays her egg in the flesh ; some say near 

 the stalk, and that the maggot 

 penetrates into the fruit on 

 hatching. The egg is white and 

 elongate, about 02 inch long, 

 somewhat broadened towards one 

 end. A distinct scar marks where 

 the egg has been laid. The incu- 

 bation lasts but a few days. The 

 maggot is creamy-white, quite (F. Edenden. 



c - 1 :, . , n , FIG. 319. WING OF CHERRY FRUIT FLY. 



footless, pointed towards the 

 head end, where are two small 



processes above, two larger ones below ; the tail end is truncated. In length 

 it reaches nearly J- inch. Their abode is the flesh of the cherry, where 

 they burrow around the stone for three or four weeks. They are usually 

 mature about the time the cherries are ripe and in the consumers' hands. 

 Attacked fruit shows, as a rule, a brown discoloured patch on one side. 

 Attacked fruits do not seem always to fall, but in all cases the maggots 

 leave them and pupate in the ground, in a brown puparium case with 

 two short horn-like points at each end. 



These puparia may also be found at the bottom of baskets, boxes, 

 etc., in which the cherries are sent to this country, and also amongst 

 rubbish. 



It is said that the maggots are not found in fruits svith acid pulp, 

 such ai Hortense, Reine, Montmorency and Royale, but especially occur 



