8 BULLETIN 134, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



this article Prof. Inzenga simply states that a "small worm" was 

 observed by Profs. Alfonso and Bonafede to breed in the orange, 

 lemon, Indian fig, and other varieties of fruit. Prof. De Stefani, 1 of 

 the Universitate di Palermo, questions, and rightly so, the authen- 

 ticity of the statement, adding as proof that in all the writings of 

 Profs. Alfonso and Bonafede no statement occurs to the effect that 

 Ceratitis capitata breeds in lemons. Prof. De Stefani further calls 

 attention to the fact that no entomologist (excepting the questionable 

 case above) has ever observed Ceratitis to breed in lemons in Italy; 

 and concluded with the statement that "It is excluded absolutely 

 that Ceratitis capitata lives in the lemons in Sicily." (E. da excludersi 

 assolutamente che la Ceratitis capitata viva nei lemoni di Sicilia.) 



Dr. G. Martelli, who has made careful studies on Ceratitis capitata, 

 published an article entitled "La Mosca della arance non vive nei 

 nostri limoni" (The orange fly does not breed in our lemons), in the 

 Giornale di Agricoltura Meridionali, No. 9, Ann. V, 1913, Messina. 

 In a paper read before the E. Scuola Superiore di Agricoltura at 

 Portici in January, 1913, Dr. Martelli records experiments in at- 

 tempting to transfer the eggs of Ceratitis into the lemons. These ex- 

 periments all resulted negatively, and he concluded that the insect 

 would not live in lemons. 



During April and May an extensive examination in all the sections 

 of Sicily was made in the field, as well as in numerous field and ex- 

 porters' packing bouses, with the result that no evidence of infested 

 lemons was fomid. This was the season when the heaviest shipments 

 were being made to the United States, and it was felt that a thor- 

 ough examination should be made at that time. But at that season 

 no fruit-fly larvse appeared in any other fruit, and thus negative evi- 

 dence under such circumstances would be of little value. Conse- 

 quently it was proposed that the inspection be continued at a later 

 and more favorable season, and this was at once agreed to by Mr. 

 Marlatt, chairman of the Federal Horticultural Board. Accordingly 

 the writer returned to the Island of Sicily, where he remained through- 

 out August and September. 



As already intimated, there was abundant evidence of the presence 

 of Ceratitis capitata in other fruits at that time. Field inspection 

 was therefore resumed in the lemon groves of Sicily during the first 

 week in August, and during the second week there was found the 

 first evidence of the breeding of Ceratitis capitata in lemons. (PI. I, 

 figs. 1, 3.) The infested lemons were large, overripe ones, with more 

 or less decay, and were found on the ground. The total number 

 found during the week was four, all taken in the same grove. Near 

 by were many old ripe oranges severely infested with the fly. The 

 week following 10 more infested lemons were found; most of these 



1 Intorno ad Alcuni Insetti degli Agrumi del Prof. Teodosio De Stefani, Palermo, p. 6, 1913. 



