WANTED

Invasive Species:
Mediterranean Fruit Fly (AKA: Ceratitis Capitata or Med
Fly)

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/fruit/mediterranean_fruit_fly.htm

Description:
~ Adults are slightly smaller than a house fly, 3.5-5mm
~ Wings are typical that of a normal fruit fly
~Yellowish with a brown tint, mostly on the abdomen, legs, and parts of the
wings
~Eyes are reddish purple
~Black and white bristles on the thorax
~ Eggs are very slender, curved, 1mm, smooth and shiny white
~lifespan of 21-30 days
~Up to 22 eggs per day may be produced and about 800 depending on its
lifespan

Crime:
~One of the worlds most destructive fruit pests
~Attacks over 200 species of fruits, vegetables, nuts and flowers but most
preferably fruits
~Leading cause to the decreasing in sales for farmers because their crops
are being ruined
~Cause for a high expansive use of eradication in order to get rid of them
~Makes farmers grow early in season due to their rapid development in the
late season, they infest all of the crops
~The very little hosts that they have vary between regions, they dont really
care for them
Last Seen:
~Sub- Sarhan Africa

~Came to means by import of fruit and or other crops infested with the
larvae

Suspected Hideouts:

~Florida, California, and Texas

~Because of its widespread distribution, and ability to tolerate cooler
climates better than other species, and wide variety in hosts, it is ranked #1
in economically important fruit fly species
Reward:
~Costly eradication
~Quarantine that can jeopardize fresh fruit markets
~ Costly sorting processes of fruit and vegetables
Bibliography:

http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/animals/medfly.shtml
http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/fruit/mediterranean_fruit_fly.htm
http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Plant-Industry/PlantIndustry-Publications/Pest-Alerts/Pest-Alerts-The-Mediterranean-Fruit-Fly