Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), Reared from Fruit of Prunus ilicifolia (Nutt.) Walp. in Hawaii

Abstract

During August 1990, six individuals of a native California chaparral tree, Prunus ilicifolia (Nutt.) Walp., were found growing at 6,600 ft. elevation al Pohakuloa, Hawaii Island. Two collections totaling 1,224 ripe fruit, made from these trees during September and November, yielded 1,649 mature larvae which produced 1,566 adults of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). The average yield of Medfly adults/kg fruit was 277.13, indicating that P. ilicifolia is an excellent host for this pest. This finding may have implications for future Medfly eradication or control programs in California since P. ilicifolia is a widely distributed element of mesic chaparral communities there.