Dacus frontalis

Description

Typical of Dacus larvae with the following specific characteristics for the third instar:

Body. Medium-sized; body length 8-9.5 mm. 

Head.  Stomal region: Number of oral ridges 11-12. 

Anterior spiracles. Number of anterior spiracular tubules 14-15.

Spinules and creeping welts. Dorsal spinules on T1-A1.

Posterior spiracles. Slits ~4x longer than wide. Number of dorsal spiracular processes 16-17; number of ventral processes 16-17; number of lateral processes 4-8.

Host plants

Famlly	Genus
Cucurbitaceae	Citrullus, Coccinia, Cucumis, Cucurbita

Part of plant attacked: fruit.

Biogeographic region and distribution

Afrotropical, Palearctic

Cape Verde Is., Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, Kenya to Namibia and South Africa.

Adult taxonomy

Dacus (Didacus) frontalis Becker
Dacus frontalis Becker 1922: 74.—Sudan. Bara. HT ♂ ZMHU.
Dacus ciliatus var. duplex Munro 1932: 155.—South Africa. Transvaal: Rosslyn. ST ♂♀ SANC.
Dacus scopatus Munro 1948: 22.—Kenya. Mbololo. HT? SANC.
 

References

Carroll, L. E., A. L. Norrbom, M. J. Dallwitz, and F. C. Thompson. 2004 onwards. Pest fruit flies of the world – larvae. Version: 8th December 2006. http://delta-intkey.com.

White, I. M., and M. M. Elson-Harris. 1992. Fruit flies of economic significance: their identification and bionomics. CAB International; Wallingford, UK. 601 p.