84 



THE FRUIT FLIES. Diptera. 



In many parts of the world where citrus fruits are 

 grown, fruit flies are very serious pests. These are 

 Dipterous insects of several species, possessing very simi- 

 lar habits and life-histories. 



In general, the eggs of the fruit flies are deposited in 

 or on ripening fruits. The maggots, on hatching from 

 the eggs, tunnel into the tissues of the fruit and cause it 

 to drop and decay. 



The Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata, 

 Wied.) Fig. 92 is perhaps the most widely distributed of 



Fig. 92. Mediterranean fruit fly. 



(a) adult insect ; (e) larva ; other letters refer to structural details. 

 All enlarged. (From U.S. Dept. Agric.) 



the fruit flies. The Mexican fruit fly or orange worm 

 (Trypeta ludens, Loew) Fig. 93 and Dacus Tryoni, Frog- 

 gatt, of Australia, are also very serious pests. 



