Identification:

Large black spot on wing tip and black cross streak on wing. Melon fly, introduced in 1895, is a major economic pest of cucurbits such as melons, squashes, and pumpkins as well as solanaceous vegetables such as eggplants, tomatoes, and peppers. Wild cucurbits such as bitter melon and ivy gourd serve as a reservoir from which flies attack cultivated crops. Melon flies are common near costal areas. Their abundance declines with increasing rainfall and elevation.