Natural Enemies of the Melon Fly, Dacus Curcurbitae Coq. in Hawaii1

Abstract

When the melon fly, Dacus {Strumeta) cucurbitae Coq., appeared in Hawaii towards the close of the nineteenth century, it thrived exceedingly well in its new environment and became a serious pest of many agricultural crops. In an effort to reduce its numbers to a level where the melon fly would not be able to cause serious damage to economic crops, intermittent attempts have been made to introduce natural enemies. In addition to these natural enemies there are others which were introduced to combat other insects, but which were later found to attack the melon fly. There are also other natural enemies of the melon fly which apparently became established in Hawaii without the intentional aid of man. This assemblage of various species constitutes a complex of natural enemies which have become in a relatively short period an integral part of the ecosystem.