12 
C. F. H. Jenkins. 
West and is a sei'ioiis menace to the industry. The first attempted biological 
control was made in 1939 when, through the co-operation of the C.S.I.R., the 
wasp Triaspis thomcicus Curt, was introduced from France. 
Approximately 1,000 parasites were reared and liberated at the following 
localities : Burges Siding, Seabrook, Wooroloo aiid Muresk. Field recoveries 
were made from peas Jiarv'csted the same season at Wooroloo but altliough peas 
were planted on that site for two successive seasons no further recoveries were 
made either there or elsewhere. 
In 1942 parasitised bean wee\dl eggs (B. ohteetus) Avere obtained from the 
U.S.D.A. Bur. Rut. and Plant Quarantine, and further attempts were made 
to rear Triaspis. These were imsuccessful, however, and further introductions 
were prevented by war conditions. 
LITERATURE. 
Newman, L. J. 1932, Jowm. Dept. Agric. If. Aust. 2nd. Ser. Vol. IX., p. 297. 
Order. DIPTERA. 
F. TRYPETIDAE. 
Ceratitis capitata Wied. (Mediterranean Fruit Fly.) 
The first record of Fruit fly in Western Australia came from Claremont in 
1895. The following year it was found in Perth and by 1897 it had spread to 
Guildford. The.se appear to bo the first records for the Commonwealth, as 
N.S.W. did not report the fly until 1898. 
This insect is the most serious fruit pest established in Western Australia 
and strenuous efforts have been marie to bring about its subjection by the 
introduction of parasites. Unfortunately, however, all attempts at biological 
control liave met with absolute failure. The parasites from Avhich the heM> 
results were expected were : — 
Syniomosphyrum indiciim Silv. and Diacka^sma tryoni Com. These wasps 
and also Teirastichus giffardianus Silv. were rcaj'ed in large numbers in cages- 
and liberated in the field, but not in a single case was parasitised material 
obtained as a result of these liberations. 
Table V summarises the attempts so far made to control fruit fly by 
biological means : — 
TABLE V. 
Parasite or Predator. 
Hate of 
Introduced 
Intro- 
From. 
duction. 
Number 
Intro- 
duced. 
Number 
Liber- 
ated. 
Where 
Liberated. 
Intro- 
duced, 
By. 
Subse- 
quent 
History. 
Staphylinid (Huafii- 
Brazil 
erocera brasiliensis) 
(Essiji., 1931) 
Hymenoptera 
do. 
Syntomosphuram in- 
India 
dicum silv. 
Hymenoptera 
do. 
Diachasma tryoni Com. 
Queensla 
Teirastichus yiffardi- 
Fiii .... 
anus Silv. 
1904 
9 
? 
Metro])olitan 
Area 
Compere 
Failed 
1904 
') 
9 
do. 
do. 
do. 
1908 
9 
250,000 
Guildford 
do. 
do. 
1908 
9 
9 
Metro])o}itan 
do. 
do. 
Area. 
1909 
9 
5,000 
Guildford 
do. 
do. 
1936 
50 para- 
20,000 
Metropolitan 
Newman 
do. 
sitised 
Area and 
pupae 
Darling 
Range 
