Adults emerge in largest numbers early in the morning during warm weather and emerge more sporadically during cool weather. Sterile Fruit Fly Release: This control method relies on flooding the area of an The Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata or Medfly) is considered the most important agricultural pest in the world. The Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) lays as many as 500 eggs in citrus fruits (except lemons and sour limes).The larvae tunnel into the flesh of the fruit and make it unfit for human consumption. Spraying will take place in the core area of a positive find and extend out 1-1/2 miles. Unless proven otherwise, all cultivars, varieties, and hybrids of the plant species listed herein are considered suitable hosts of C. capitata. (http://www.extento.hawaii.edu/kbase/crop/Type/ceratiti.htm). The economic importance of this fruit fly is increasing due to its invasion of new geographical areas. Fully grown larvae, when the surrounding air temperature is warm, flex and "jump" repeatedly as much as 25 mm when removed from fruit. Photograph by Peggy Greb, USDA; www.forestryimages.org. Larvae may also attack young seedlings and succulent tap roots of. Mitchell WC, Andrew CO, Hagen KS, Hamilton RA, Harris EJ, Maehler KL, Rhode RH. Annual Review of Entomology 5: 171-192. Larval identification is extremely difficult, so that when feasible it is best to rear them to adults for identification. Conley KL. Photograph by Scott Bauer, USDA. Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae). Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) is one of the world’s most destructive fruit pests. Photograph by Scott Bauer, USDA. The male has a pair of bristles with enlarged spatulate tips next to the inner margins of the eyes. Larval damage provides entry points for bacteria and fungi that cause the fruit to rot. Journal of Economic Entomology 64: 708-713. Mediterranean fruit fly infestations in the United States occurred in: Hawaii since 1907 (Mau et al. When it has been detected in Florida, California, and Texas, especially in recent years, each infestation necessitated intensive and massive eradication and detection procedures so that the pest did not become established. Larval identification is based primarily on characters of mature 3rd instar larvae. (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in371). medfly. Older version of trap used to capture adults of the Adult Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). Mediterranean fruit fly. Host Plants of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera Tephritidae): An Annotated World Review. Mature attacked fruits may develop a water soaked appearance. Once an adult Mediterranean fruit fly is positively identified, the number of baited traps throughout that area is greatly increased to capture the flies and remove them from the environment, and to serve as a monitoring tool for the effectiveness of the eradication program. At first tunnels are formed by the feeding larvae. Thank you for your cooperation in the eradication of Mediterranean fruit fly. When host fruit is continuously available and weather conditions favorable for many months, successive generations will be large and continuous. [Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society], 31, USA: Hawaiian Entomological Society. Wings, usually held in a drooping position on live flies, are broad and hyaline with black, brown, and brownish yellow markings. The Mediterranean fruit fly and its economic impact on Central American countries and Panama. Steck and T.R. Oviposition may take place as early as four to five days after emergence during very warm weather, but not for about 10 days when temperatures range between 68 to 72°F (20 to 22.2°C) (Back and Pemberton 1915). Eyes are reddish-purple. When the daily mean temperature averages from 76 to 78°F (24.4 to 25.6°C), most females are ready to mate from six to eight days after eclosion. CDFA - Plant Health - PDEP- Mediterranean fruit fly Project. Lack of fruit for three to four months reduces the population to a minimum. 1979. Photograph by USDA. Fruit trees such as stone fruit (apricots, cherries, peaches, plums, nectarines) can be difficult to grow free of fruit fly in areas like Perth where Medfly populations are high. Lower corners of the face have white setae. Graphic by Division of Plant Industry. A primary method of collecting larvae is by cutting infested fruit. Mediterranean fruit fly (often known as Medfly) is a major problem for backyard and commercial orchardists. Cooperative Economic Insect Report 25: 825-839. San Salvador: Organ. It attacks a range of cultivated fruits and some fruiting vegetables. Rhode RH, Simon J, Perdomo A, Gutierrez J, Dowling Jr. CF, Linquist DA. Papadopoulos NT. There is a wide brownish yellow band across middle of wing. The Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) is a hugely destructive agricultural pest, attacking more than 250 kinds of fruits, nuts and vegetables. (17 July 2001). Photograph by USDA. Breeding is continuous with several generations per year. United States Department of Agriculture Bulletin 640: 1-43. (http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/animals/medfly.shtml). USDA-ARS scientists in Hawaii and Texas collaborated in investigating phloxine B, better known as the FDA-approved red dye number 28. Attached is a world list of hosts grouped according to their importance according to best available information. 1998, Papadopoulos 2008). University of Florida. Humeral bristles are present. Miscellaneous Publications, No. Graphic by Division of Plant Industry. The caudal end has two prominent subspiracular tubercles, each with a crescent of irregularly fused papillules (approximately equivalent to 11-2). UC/AID Pest Management and Related Environmental Protection Project at the University of California, Berkeley. Figure 8. Figure 19. 1994. Adults may live over a year and and lay 800 eggs. A female medfly will lay one to 10 eggs in an egg cavity 1 mm deep, may lay as many as 22 eggs per day, and may lay as many as 800 eggs during her lifetime (usually about 300). Caudal end of larva of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. Back EA, Pemberton CE. There are dark streaks and spots in middle of wing cells in and anterior to anal cell. The Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata), or medfly, is a significant horticultural pest that is established in parts of Western Australia. The Dominican Republic is now on the list of countries that have successfully eradicated the Mediterranean fruit fly. The hypostomium has prominent, rounded subhypostomium; post-hypostomial plates curved dorsally to the dorsal bridge, fused with sclerotized rays of central area of dorsal wing plate. Ceratitis hispanica De Brême 2001). Soil Drenching: The soil under host trees with fruit known or suspected to be infested with medfly larvae and host trees under adjacent properties will be treated. USDA-APHIS, in cooperation with threatened states, has established action plans that go into effect when fruit flies are trapped and reported (USDA 2008). The Mediterranean fruit fly ‘Medfly’ is considered one of the world’s most destructive pests. 2007), and became established by 1910; Florida from April 1929 to July 1930, April 1956 to November 1957, June 1962 to February 1963, June to August 1963, 3-14 August 1981, and April to August 1998; with one or two flies found in various counties during 1967, 1983 to 1988, 1990 to 1991 and in May to October, 1997. Application of the sterile-insect-release technique in Mediterranean fruit fly suppression. Cover sprays are applied as very fine droplets to the entire tree including the fruit, but should be considered only if fly numbers increase to unacceptable levels. Host fruits and vegetables are a vital part of the Medfly lifecycle and affected fruit is unsaleable. Back EA, Pemberton CE. Head is to the left. Dorsal view of adult male Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). Thomas, M.C., J.B. Heppner, R.E. The pharyngeal plate is elongate, with prominent median hood and anterior sclerotized area. The females can be separated from most other species by the characteristic yellow wing pattern and the apical half of the scutellum being entirely black (White and Elson-Harris 1994). 2008. Minimum duration of the pupal stage is six to 13 days when the mean temperature ranges from about 76 to 79°F (24.4 to 26.1°C). DESCRIPTION. 601 pp. Distribution Figure 14. Medflies often share regurgitated food. When it has been detected in Florida, California, and Texas, especially in recent years, each infestation necessitated intensive and massive eradication and detection procedures so that the pest did not become established. Lateral view of adult Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). Pupae of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). Larvae pass through three instars. Eyes are reddish purple (fluoresce green, turning blackish within 24 hours after death). Plus treatment strategies change in an environment of public concern about aerial application of insecticidal baits. Figure 20. The length of time required for the medfly to complete its life cycle under typical Florida summer weather conditions, and on which eradication schedules in Florida are based, is 21 to 30 days. The caudal end has bifurcate or paired dorsal papillules (D1 and D2) on small mount of relatively flat plate; intermediate papillules (I1-2) as a line of fused elevations on a very enlarged subspiracular tubercle, plus a remote I3 at approximately 45 degrees from I1-2; L1 on the median edge of the caudal end; V1 not prominent; posterior spiracles elongate (4.5 to 5X width), with dorsal and ventral spiracles angled away from relatively planar median spiracle; interspiracular processes (hairs) usually not branched; anal lobe bifid or entire. Figure 21. They can fly short distances, but winds may carry them a mile or more away. Incidence of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), in Florida, 1929-1998. Characters of the larvae and pupae of certain fruit flies. Similar species. Photograph by USDA. Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidae) 5 Adult The adult fly is 3.5 to 5 mm in length. United States: California (being eradicated), Florida (eradicated), Hawaii (eradicated), and Texas. The medfly has no near relatives in the Western Hemisphere. The features of the larvae of C. capitata, as noted in the description, are variable to some degree as indicated. 1). Adult Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), feeding on a cotton wick soaked with a bait-dye mixture. Fruit is placed in heavy plastic bags and removed to a local landfill to be buried. The parastomium is prominent. Pupa: The pupa is cylindrical, 4 to 4.3 mm long, dark reddish brown, and resembles a swollen grain of wheat. Exotic Fruit Fly Projects. Life history of the Mediterranean fruit fly from the standpoint of parasite introduction. During June–August 2010, the largest outbreak since the 1997-1998 infestations was discovered and eradicated in Palm Beach County in the Boca Raton area (FDACS 2010a, 2010c); California in 1975, and periodically since 1980. Some areas have had almost 100% infestation in stone fruits. Mau, R.F.L. Larvae leave fruit through large exit hole. 1918. Infest the fruits of many economically important species including: Females deposit 2 - 10 eggs under the skin of fruit that is just beginning to ripen, often in an area where some break in the skin has already occurred. Martin Kessing. The Mediterranean fruit fly is a short, squat fly about 1/4 inch in length (Fig. Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) is a serious horticultural pest in the South West of Western Australia. Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Ripe fruit is likely to be more juicy, and such fruits often are associated with a high mortality of eggs and young larvae. Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) is a serious horticultural pest in Western Australia. The pharyngeal skeleton is distinctive in overall configuration, particularly the enlarged subhypostomium of the hypostomium (posterior to each mouth hook). It attacks more than 350 plant species and the damage it causes amounts to several hundred million dollars per year. 1975. and J.L. Cooperative Mediterranean Fruit Fly Project (California). The thorax is creamy white to yellow with a characteristic pattern of black blotches. Although several species of cucurbits have been recorded as hosts of the medfly, they are considered to be very poor hosts. It is a rapid colonizer and unlike most species of fruit flies, it can tolerate cooler climates. Heppner JB. There is a heavily sclerotized dorsal bridge point at the anterior of the dorsal wing plate. Because of its wide distribution over the world, its ability to tolerate cooler cli… Larvae exit the fruit to pupate in the soil. Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), reared from fruit of Prunus ilicifolia (Nutt.) Adult male Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). Photograph by Jeffery Lotz, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services-Division of Plant Industry; www.forestryimage.org. Mediterranean Fruit Fly Regulation and Quarantine Boundaries Pest Hotline: 1-800-491-1899 The Mediterranean fruit fly The Mediterranean fruit fly is a short, squat fly about 1/4 inch in length. Larvae examined came from verified samples from Florida, Hawaii, and Portugal (all are in the larval collection of the Museum of Entomology, Florida State Collection of Arthropods). Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society 70: 67-69. 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