Mediterranean Fruit Fly

Damage caused by the Mediterranean Fruit Fly

Larvae of the mediterranean fruit fly feed on the different kinds of fruits including apples and peaches and fruity vegetables like bell peppers and tomatoes. Generally, females of the mediterranean fruit fly puncture ripening fruit and lay eggs in the wound. These eggs hatch inside the fruits into small maggots that feed on the pulp making fruits unmarketable and inedible that in turn causes economic damage to fruit and vegetable industries.

Facts (show all)

+Common names

• The Mediterranean fruit fly

+Scientific name

• Ceratitis capitata

+Identification

Adults: Adults of the mediterranean fruit fly are blackish yellow in color with dark blue eyes and yellow, black and brown spots scattered all over the body.

Eggs: Eggs of the mediterranean fruit fly are shiny white in color, thin, curved and about 1mm long.

Maggots: Maggots of the mediterranean fruit fly are creamy white in color, cylindrical in shape but they are narrow at the mouth region and flattened at the tail region.

Pupae: Pupae of the mediterranean fruit fly are reddish brown in color and cylindrical in shape.

+Biology

The females of the mediterranean fruit fly puncture ripening fruit and lay eggs in the wound. These eggs hatch inside the fruits within 3-4 days into small maggots that begin feeding on the pulp and pass through three developmental stages and become mature inside the fruit. After maturity, maggots exit the fruit and drop to the ground where they pupate in the soil. Adult fruit flies emerge from pupae within a week, mate, lay eggs and life cycle continues. Under favourable conditions, the mediterranean fruit flies can complete their life cycle within 20 to 30 days.

+ Organic Control of the Mediterranean fruit fly

• Following beneficial bugs and plant products are used for organic control of the Mediterranean fruit fly

+Beneficial Nematodes

• Steinernema carpocapsae

Click each of the following beneficial bugs or plant product for more information on their rates and methods of applications for the effective control of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly.