1. Short notes on the medfly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) By Arya Widyawan aryawidyawan@yahoo.com.au Photos: http://www.eppo.org/QUARANTINE/insects/Ceratitis_capitata/CERTCA_images.htm

2. Classification of Medfly Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Arthropoda Class : Insecta Order : Dipetra Family : Tephritidae Genus : Ceratitis Species : Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) Synonym are Ceratitis citripeda MacLeay, C. hispanica Debreme, Pardalaspis asparagi Bezzi, and Tephritis capitata Wiedemann Common name: Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly). (Hill, 1994; White & Harris, 1992).

3. Economic importance 1. The most destructive pest among other fruit flies. polyphagous wide distribution area. able to tolerate cooler climate better than any other fruit flies, wide range of host. hide infestation resistant to most insecticides (Mau, 2007; White & Harris, 1992) 2. Act as a vector for fruit-rotting fungi (in laboratory condition) (Cayol et al., 1994)

4. Host Plant Main host plant  peach and citrus fruits. Alternative host plant  coffee berries, cocoa, Ficus, mango, guava, Prunus spp. Solanum spp., etc. (Hill, 1975) In some areas in Libya, pepper (Capsicum) is also infested by medfly (Fimiani, 1989). Apple, pear, asparagus can also became the host for medfly (Colbrie & Petersen, 1989).

5. Symptoms Ovipositioning puncture Photo : www.inra.fr/hyppz/IMAGES/7031149.jpg

6. Symptoms Larvae and larval tunnel Water soaked appearance  The tunnels provides entry points for bacteria and fungi that cause the fruit to rot (Hill, 1975). Photos: http://www.eppo.org/QUARANTINE/insects/Ceratitis_capitata/CERTCA_images.htm

7. Distribution Medfly distribution map Medfly distribution Picture: http://agspsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/ento/Surveillance/Fruit%20fly.html

8. Life cycle of Med fly Eggs  larvae  pupa  adult whitish- yellow maggot larvae elongate shape brown color http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/fruit/medflylifecycle.htm

9. Life Cycle of Medfly Egg (days)/ No. Laid Larva (days)Pupa (days)Adult (months ) 2-4/3006-11 2-3 The life cycle may be different according to temperature and sometimes host (Hill 1994)  larvae require 14 to 26 days to reach maturity in a ripe lemon; 10 to 15 days in a green peach  In peaches, mespils, and tomatoes, larval development time was found to be 6, 8, and 11.8 days respectively (Mourikis, Tsitsipis, 1989)  In the average temperature 25 to 26,1 o C, the development of larvae will be 6 to 10 days (Thomas et al., 2007)  Back and Pemberton (1915) (see Thomas et al., 2007) noted that pupation may be increased to at least 19 days when the daily temperature means drop to about 20.6 to 21.7°C.

10. Control Method Organic Farm Field sanitation ; destruction of all unmarketable and infested fruit Biocontrol ; using natural enemies such as Opius longicaudatus var. malaiaensis Fullaway, O. vandenboschi Fullaway, and O. oophilus Fullaway Sterile insect technique (male medfly) Trap Modern Farm Insecticedes Malathion Trichlorphon Phloxine B Fenthion to kill larvae

11. Sterile insect technique (male medfly)  The objective of the SIT program is to be able to induce high levels of sterility with a minimum deterioration in fitness in the target species.  irradiation is done with 2 days pre-eclosion pupae or young adult with dose 9-11krad.  It will result 99% sterility (Hooper, 1989).

12. Trap  Based on color, shaped, odor, or the combination of those three.  The combination of trimedlure male attractant with yellow-color stick panel or dark color spheres increase the number of male medfly captured (Economopoulos, 1989).

13. References Colbrie, P.F. and E.B. Petersen. 1989. Pest status: temperate Europe and West Asia. In: A.S. Robinson and G. Hooper (Editors), Fruit flies their biology, natural enemies, and control. Volume 3A. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp.91-99. Economopoulos, A.P. 1989. Control: use of traps based on color and/or shape. In: A.S. Robinson and G. Hooper (Editors), Fruit flies their biology, natural enemies, and control. Volume 3B. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp.315-327. Fimiani, A. 1989. Pest status: Mediterranean region. In: A.S. Robinson and G. Hooper (Editors), Fruit flies their biology, natural enemies, and control. Volume 3A. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp.39-50. Hill, D.S. 1975. Agricultural Insect Pests of The Tropics and Their Control. Cambridge University Press: London. Hooper, G.H.S. 1989. Biology and physiology: the effect of ionizing radiation on reproduction. In: A.S. Robinson and G. Hooper (Editors), Fruit flies their biology, natural enemies, and control. Volume 3A. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp.153-164. Mau. R.F.L. and J.L.M. Kessing. 2007. Ceratitis capitata. http://www.extento.hawaii.edu/Kbase/crop/Type/ceratiti.htm http://www.extento.hawaii.edu/Kbase/crop/Type/ceratiti.htm Thomas, M.C., J.B. Heppner, R.E. Woodruff, H.V. Weems, and G.J. Steck. 2007. Mediterranean Fruit Fly. http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/fruit/Mediterranean_fruit_fly.htm http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/fruit/Mediterranean_fruit_fly.htm Tsitsipis, J.A. 1989. Nutrition: requirements. In: A.S. Robinson and G. Hooper (Editors), Fruit flies their biology, natural enemies, and control. Volume 3A. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp.103-119. White, I.M. and M.M.E. Harris. 1992. Fruit Flies of Economic Significance: Their Identification and Bionomics. ACIAR: Canberra.

14. Thank You