Ceratitis capitata
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Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) - (Mediterranean fruit fly)
The medfly is a major, polyphagous pest of fruits which is native to the Mediterranean region, Africa and parts of Asia. It has been accidentally introduced into other regions through the transport of fruits and is now wide-spread. Several introductions into the U.S. mainland have been successfully eradicated and because of the frequent introductions, a strategy of regular preventive releases of sterile male flies has been adopted in California.
The economic significance of this species includes the losses caused by the fruit fly itself, plus the substantial quarantine efforts (and costs) undertaken in countries free from this species (e.g. mainland U.S.A.).
| Vernacular names | |
|---|---|
| • Deutsch: | Mittelmeerfruchtfliege |
| • English: | Mediterranean fruit fly medfly |
| • Español: | mosca frutera del Mediterráneo mosca mediterranea de la fruta |
| • Français: | mouche méditerranéenne des fruits |
| • Português: | mosca-do-mediterrâneo |
When the female lays its eggs into the ripening fruit, bacteria and fungi are also introduced and accelerate the decay. In particular citrus, mango, coffee and guava are attacked. The adults are 4-5 mm long. The life-cycle from egg, over the 3 larval stages to the mature adult lasts about 1-1½ months. Mature larvae leave the fruits and pupate in the ground.
Synonyms:
Ceratitis citriperda
For details see the respective page in Wikipedia.
- Other images of Ceratitis capitata (Wikimedia Commons, IPM Images and PaDIL - click to enlarge)
larva inside fruit
larva
pupa
pupae from rearing for sterile insect release, the color is useful to separate males (brown) from females (white)
adult male resting on leaf
trap for Mediterranean fruit fly
adult
close-up of wing pattern
details of thorax
details of thorax
