THE MELON FLY is a truck-crop pest that in 
the course of international commerce has been 
spread from its native home in the Indo-Malayan 
region to the Hawaiian Islands, and has become so 
thoroughly established that it can not be eradicated. 
Owing to its destructive work, such fruits as musk- 
melons, watermelons, pumpkins, squashes, cucum- 
bers, vegetable marrows, and tomatoes can not be 
grown to-day in many parts of the Hawaiian Islands 
unless the plants are screened. Cantaloupes and 
watermelons, instead of being common and cheap 
delicacies, as in former years, are now a luxury 
even for the wealthy; and cantaloupes, formerly 
grown in quantities about Honolulu, are now im- 
ported from California. Owing to the danger of 
introducing the melon fly into countries where it 
doesr not now exist, quarantines prohibit the export 
of Hawaiian-grown eggplant, bell peppers, and 
tomatoes, thus shutting off an income formerly 
enjoyed by the small farmer. In short, it is not 
possible to exaggerate the seriousness of this insect 
under Hawaiian coastal conditions. 
The problem, however, is not entirely a local one 
to be fought out by the people of Hawaii. Should* 
the melon fly once break through the Federal quar- 
antine barriers and become established on the main- 
land of the United States, it will exact a large 
annual toll of the truck crops of the South. It is 
important, therefore, that truck growers learn some- 
thing about this pest, so difficult of control, in order 
that they may become actively interested in keeping 
it out 
