Larvae of Fruit Flies. V Dacus cucurbitae (Melon Fly)

The melon fly, Dacus cucurbitae Coquillett, is widespread throughout most of Southeast Asia, from India to Indonesia, also ranging north to Japan and nearby Pacific islands. It has been introduced into Hawaii (Back & Pemberton, 1917) and has been intercepted occasionally in California and ports of entry in Houston, Mobile, and Boston. Although thus far never intercepted in Florida, it is potentially a serious threat to agriculture. Larvae have been reported from over 125 species of plants (Weems, 1964), being particularly destructive to melons, cantaloupe, watermelon and other melons, pumpkin, squash, cucumber, tomato, string bean, and cowpea, and occasionally orange, papaya, mango, peach, and fig.