UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 643 
Contribution from the Bureau of Entomology 
L. O. HOWARD, Chief 
Washington, D. C. 
March 8, 1918 
THE MELON FLY 
By 
E. A. BACK, Entomologist 
and C. E. PEMBERTON, Assistant Entomologist 
Mediterranean and Other Fruit Fly Investigations 
CONTENTS 
Page 
What the Melon Fly is Like 3 
Origin and Distribution 4 
Establishment and Spread in Hawaii . . 4 
Methods of Spread 7 
Economic Importance 7 
Nature of Injury Caused by the Melon Fly 8 
Food or Host Plants 16 
Page 
Interesting Facts Concerning the Adult Fly 22 
Why the Melon Fly is a Serious Pest . . 24 
Control Measures 25 
Measures Taken to Keep Fruit Flies of 
Hawaii from Gaining a Foothold in Con* 
tinental United States ....... 29 
Summary ..•• 30 
WASHINGTON 
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICK 
1918 
