Short pest overview:

This insect, the melon fly, is a fruit fly of the family Tephritidae, that has 6 to 8 mm in length. It is a serious agricultural pest. This pest feeds on the juices of decaying fruit, nectar, bird feces, and plant sap.

Geographic Distribution:

This pest is native in India but also is found in Southern Asia, several countries in Africa and Hawaii.

Life Cycle:

Development period from egg to adult ranges from 12 to 28 days. The female may lay as many as 1,000 eggs. Eggs are generally laid in young fruit 2-4 mm deep, but are also laid in the succulent stems of host plants. The eggs are deposited in cavities created by the female using its sharp ovipositor. There may be as many as 8 to 10 generations a year.