About Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett, 1899)
Bactrocera cucurbitae, commonly known as the melon fly, is a species of fruit fly belonging to the family Tephritidae. It is classified as a serious agricultural pest, most notably in Hawaii. The melon fly is native to India, where it is distributed across most of the country. Its range also covers most of southern Asia, several countries in Africa, and some Pacific island groups. In the United States, it was the first tephritid fruit fly species to become established in Hawaii. It was introduced to Hawaii from Japan around 1895, and by 1897, when it was first observed there, it had already developed into a serious pest. The species has not become permanently established in the continental United States, but it is frequently intercepted at ports. Occasionally, a temporary infestation becomes established there, but these infestations are always eradicated afterwards.
