MEDITERRANEAN FRUIT FLY IN HAWAII. 43 



The results of the foregoing experiments, together with others on file, strengthen 

 the conclusions quoted above that bananas cut, wrapped, and shipped according to 

 trade and Federal regulations are not a source of danger as carriers of C. capitata. 

 Particular attention is called to the very slight infestation secured under forced con- 

 ditions, even amongfruits actually turning yellow on the tree. Many hundred adults 

 would have been reared from favored host fruits similarly caged with adults. 



49. Noronhia emarginata. 



Noronhia emarginata is a native fruit of Madagascar and Mauritius. The writers 

 have never found it infested, but Mr. E. M. Ehrhorn reared 24 adults from a sample 

 of fruit during July, 1912. Mr. Ehrhorn is also authority for the rearing of adults 

 from fruits grown on Kauai. 



50. Ochrosia elliptica. 



The shrub Ochrosia elliptica is grown because of the ornamental value of its scarlet 

 fruits. These are occasionally infested. Thirty adult flies were reared from one lot 

 of 12 fruits maturing in the Punahou district of Honolulu, and 8 from one fruit grown 

 at Waikiki. 



51. Prickly Pear (Opuntia vulgaris). 



Although the prickly pear (Opuntia vulgaris) grows wild (PI. XVII) on waste arid 

 lands in Hawaii, it is not a preferred host. From 23 overripe fruits taken from the 

 ground during August, 1912, on Punchbowl, only 15 flies were reared, while no flies 

 were reared from 28 similar fruits gathered at the same time. No flies were reared 

 from 29 lots totaling 254 fruits collected in Pauoa, Palola, MaMki, Moanalua, and 

 Kalauao during September-December, 1912. These fruits were all ripe, many too 

 ripe to remain erect on the plant, and some had fallen to the ground. From 8 fruits 

 ripe, but erect on th'e plant, cut from plants on Punchbowl close to the Federal Experi- 

 ment Station, 8 flies were reared; 10 fruits taken from the ground near the top of 

 Punchbowl at the same time (September, 1912) yielding only 1 fly. Of 8 lots of ripe 

 fruits gathered from plants during December, 1914, from Ewa, Fort Shafter, Kalauao, 

 Red Hill, Salt Lake Road, upper and lower Palolo and Manoa Valleys, totaling 118 

 fruits, only 1 lot of 5 fruits from Ewa yielded 2 adults. 



Compere reports the prickly pear about Malaga, Spain, to be infested by C. capitata. 



52. Passion Vine (Passifiora coerulea). 



The fruits of only one species (Passifiora coerulea) of passion vines have been found 

 infested by C. capitata in Hawaii. Infestation is by no means severe. At Haiku, 

 island of Maui, a search among several hundred ripe fruits proved only two fruits to 

 have been infested, and from these six adults were reared. While numerous fruits of 

 different sizes have been found deformed by punctures on Oahu no adult flies have 

 been reared. It is doubtful if this' passion vine supports C. capitata except when 

 growing luxuriantly in shaded localities. 



Fruits of Passifiora quadrangularis, edulis, laurifolia, alata and foetida have not been 

 found infested. The common water lemon (P. laurifolia) found upon the markets of 

 Hawaii is impervious to attack when ripe, as proved by hanging fruits in jars of adult 

 flies. 



53. Avocado (Persea gratissima). 



The avocado (Persea gratissima), palta, or alligator pear as it is sometimes called (PI. 

 XVIII), is one of the host fruits of C. capitata that become infested, if at all, late in 

 their development. In fact, the nature of its infestation for most horticultural varie- 

 ties is so obscure that the general belief prevails that avocados are free from attack. 

 Previous to the introduction of C. capitata in Hawaii a small and growing export trade 

 was being developed and, because of the excellence of the improved Hawaiian avocado, 



