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BULLETIN 643, U. S. DEPABTMENT OF AGEICULTUBE. 



COWPEAS. 



Although cowpeas are not grown to any great extent in Hawaii, 

 they are subject to melon-fly attack. Only the pods are affected. As 

 many as 37 larvae have been taken from a single pod. \Yhen infesta- 

 tion occurs early the young seeds may be devoured, but attack is cen- 

 tered more often upon the pod itself. Some varieties of cowpeas 

 appear to be less liable than others to attack by the melon fly. 



FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT ARE SELDOM OR NEVER ATTACKED. 



Several observers have stated that the melon fly attacks eggplant, 

 bell peppers, cabbage, and kohlrabi. During a period of three years 



the representatives of 

 the department have 

 not found any of 

 these vegetables af- 

 fected. The Mediter- 

 ranean fruit fly has 

 been found attacking 

 eggplant and bell 

 peppers, but only in 

 small numbers. Even 

 in the laboratory egg- 

 plant was found im- 

 mune to melon - fly 

 attack if the fruits 

 were sound. Adult 

 melon flies, however, 

 were reared from 

 fruits first weakened 

 by decays. 



Adults have been 



Fig. 21.— Damage to squash by larvee of melon fly. Of the reared from Orange, 



two fruits illustrated, the one to the right is normal. rm-ncro fif u9T)9Va 

 and the one to the left, the stunted and deformed fruit fc ' &3 1 I J > 



caused by melon-fly attack. (Authors - illustration.) peach, apple, and 



water lemon. These 

 fruits, however, do not serve regularly as hosts of the melon fly. 

 Only in rare instances does the melon fly attack them, and then 

 onh T slightly. For practical purposes aside from quarantines all the 

 fruits and vegetables listed under this subheading are free from 

 attack by the melon flv. 



INTERESTING FACTS CONCERNING THE ADULT FLY. 



The most interesting facts about the adult melon fly center about 

 the length of life and the capacity to lay eggs. No flies have been 



