In spite of its origin, it is also called Mediterranean fruit fly because of its devastating economic effect on Mediterranean countries. It affects many crops, especially citrus plants, as well as pip and stone fruit trees.
In Spain, this pest spreads throughout the Southern and Mediterranean regions, reaching optimal conditions in the regions situated more inland.
It is a highly polyphagous insect that attacks all types of fruit. The larvae live inside the fruit and prefer those that have the most sweet and fleshy pulp such as the peach, but they also damage figs, apricots, oranges, mandarins, persimmons, grapes, pears, pomegranates, mangos, custard apples, papayas, loquats, plums, quinces, etc.
It can produce several generations every year, depending on the climate of the area. During the cold season, they live on the ground in pupal stage. In areas with a mild climate, it can produce up to 7 or 8 generations.
Morphology and biology
Adult: It has vibrant colours such as yellow, white and black. Its size is smaller than that of housefly (4-5 mm long). It has large iridescent green eyes. Its thorax is grey with black spots and long hairs.
Its abdomen is tawny with yellow and grey dorsal bands. Its legs are yellowish and its wings are iridescent, with several greyish, yellow and black spots.
The female has a conical abdomen ending in a strong ovipositor in which has black and yellow sensorial bands . The male, being somewhat smaller, has two long bands on the forehead that culminate in a black rhomboidal palate.
Egg: Egg-shaped. Recently laid, it is white, long and slightly curved but then turns yellowish. Its average size is 1 x 0.2 mm. Its surface which is smooth at a glance, shows a micro-reticulum of hexagonal
mesh.
Larva: It is small, whitish and apodous with the frontal part situated at the extreme end of the body while the posterior part is wider and shorter. After moulting twice, it reaches its complete growth by looking
white or yellow with cream, orange or reddish spots due to the presence of food inside it. Its size is 9 x 2 mm.
Pupa: By completing the last moult, the exoskeleton changes into a protective cover in the shape of a small chestnut-coloured barrel. On the inside, it develops several transformations of its body that will
conclude with the adult phase. When the insect emerges (between 6 to 15 days) it splits the puparium open on one of the sides.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA)

Adult
© Daniel Feliciano

Eggs
© www.moscamed-guatemala.org.gt

Larva
© Daniel Feliciano

Pupa
© www.moscamed-guatemala.org.gt
According to Gómez-Clemente, it can have the following cycle in the Mediterranean regions:
In winter, the first generation of female adults appears and attacks oranges and clementines, looking for the sunniest branches. The mature fruits are more vulnerable. All citrus fruits are exposed to its attacks, but the thickness
and the texture of the peel, as well as the density of the essential oils’ glands, play an important role in their immunity, as is the case with the lemon.
They fly over the fruits looking for the right place. Colour and scent are two relevant aspects when selecting a place to lay their eggs (they prefer yellow and orange).
They lay their eggs in groups of 5 to 10. The total number of eggs for each female can range from 300 to 400. Entering inside the fruit, the larvae feed on the pulp. The rotten fruits fall to the ground and the larvae emerges
from the inside of the fruit by pupating underground at a depth of 5-10 cm. In spring, a second generation appears and affects apricots. At the beginning of summer, there is a third generation that affects peaches.
In August and September, a fourth and fifth generation affects peaches, pears, figs, persimmons and grapes. The Ceratitis Capitata also begins to bite oranges and mandarins that are still green.
Later on, there is a sixth generation that attacks late fruits, such as oranges and mandarins. If the temperature is mild, there could be other generations.
Activity is reduced in winter but when temperature rises above 14 oC, the flies become active again.
Source: Universidad Politécnica de Valencia.
Damages
The female fly lays (up to 10 eggs) by introducing her ovipositor into the fruits when they begin to ripen. The wound is an entrance for the microorganisms that begin the rotting process of the fruit. Moreover, the larvae excavate
galleries inside the fruit, increasing the decomposition and causing the fruit to fall to the ground.
When the larvae feed on the pulp, they favour the processes of oxidation and the premature ripening of the fruit. This causes the fruit to rot, making it unsaleable at the market.
When the fruits fall to the ground, this causes great inconvenience because the fly begins its cycle in the fruit again, multiplying the population of the pest very quickly.
Another important focal point for the fruit fly is the mature and sweet fruits that remain unpicked in the trees after the fruit picking season because of economic or commercial reasons.