THE MELON FLY IN HAWAII. 5 i 



Since there are as many as 8 to 10 generations of the melon fly a 

 year, it is evident that it can multiply very rapidly. No agencies 

 have been found to be working at the present time in Hawaii that 

 bring about, even periodically, a great natural reduction in the 

 abundance of melon flies. In colder climates cold weather will 

 prove a marked and valuable control factor. No parasites are 

 known in Hawaii. Predacious enemies and several forms of mor- 

 tality recorded are of no practical value under Hawaiian conditions. 

 Search for parasites is now in progress and it is hoped that future 

 introductions of melon-fly parasites may prove beneficial. 



No satisfactory artificial measures have been successfully applied 

 in combating the melon fly under Hawaiian conditions. Poisoned- 

 bait sprays promise to yield effective results under other cultural 

 conditions. At present cucurbits can only be grown by the use of 

 coverings of various sorts for the protection of the very young fruit. 

 Trapping of adults and killing adults by sprays have yielded nega- 

 tive results, while killing the immature stages by submergence in 

 water, by burial in soil, or by cold-storage temperature are methods 

 to be applied in lessening the abundance of the pest after infestation 

 has occurred. Artificial methods of control are not likely to prove 

 satisfactory in Hawaii so long as the growing of the chief host 

 plants remains in the hands of uneducated oriental laborers who 

 do not practice clean cultural methods or cooperate in applying 

 remedial measures. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY. 



(1) Clark, B. O. 



1898. In The Hawaiian, vol. 1, No. 27, p. G. 



The Hawaiian was a newspaper published only during 1898. Mr. L. H. Mesick, 

 Hawaiian Gazette Co., Honolulu, its editor, possesses the single known complete 

 file. One section of the paper was known as the official bulletin of the Bureau of 

 Agriculture (now the Board of Agriculture and Forestry). The reference consists 

 of correspondence containing the first information published regarding the presence 

 of the melon fly in the Hawaiian Islands, or elsewhere, and is as follows : 



Laupahoehoe, August 8, 1898. 

 Prof. Koebele, Honolulu. 



Dear Sir : We have a new pest that has lately come here in the shape of a fly like 

 a yellow jacket, only not so large. It punctures pumpkins, squashes, bean, tomatoes, 

 watermelons, and all other plants of this nature. It lays eggs inside, which form 

 maggots like the samples I send you. You can judge of their work where the things 

 are growing. Can you suggest any remedy? I send you some samples of their work 

 by the S. S. Kinau. 

 Yours, truly, 



L. C. Swain. 



Honolulu, August 11, 1898. 

 L. C. Swain, Esq., Laupahoehoe, Hawaii. 



Dear Sir : Yours of the 8th instant at hand and contents noted. Prof. Koebele is 

 now in the States, but as I have personal experience with the fly you mention and con- 

 sulted with Prof. Koebele in regard to it, I can state he told me of no remedy except 

 covering the vines, and of course this is not at all practicable except for a few vines 

 in a garden. I tried a spray of whale-oil soap, thinking the odor might keep the fly 

 away, but it did not. I shall try a Paris-green solution, 1 pound to 200 gallons of 

 water, keeping it stirred frequently, and apply with a spray pump. This will kill the 

 eggs and young larva? of the codling moth on -apple and other fruits, and possibly 

 may do so in this case. The great difficulty in this climate is that frequent showers 

 wash off the poison, and it has to be repeated frequently. The Paris' green can also 

 be applied as a powder, mixed with flour or air-slaked lime, in the proportion of 1 

 part of Paris green to 100 of flour or lime. I would advise collecting all infested 

 squashes and feeding to pies or other animals or burv them so deep the fly can not 

 get out when it hatches. If all who grow the crops which it breeds in would do so, I 

 think it could be at least checked ; the great difficulty would be to know if there is any 



