Mediterranean fruit fly

American  

noun

1. a small, black and white, irregularly banded two-winged fly, Ceratitis capitata, of many warm regions, that damages citrus and other succulent fruit crops by implanting eggs that hatch into maggots within the fruit.

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Mediterranean fruit fly British  

noun

1. Also called: medfly.  a species of dipterous fly, Ceratitis capitata, having marbled wings, whose maggots tunnel into fruits such as citrus, peach, and vine in the Mediterranean area, South Africa, and elsewhere: family Trypetidae

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Etymology

Origin of Mediterranean fruit fly

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

The Mediterranean fruit fly, often known as the “Medfly”, is one of the most serious threats faced by farmers worldwide.

From NewsForKids.net • Nov. 8, 2023

That case stemmed from former Gov. George Deukmejian’s 1989 executive order to begin aerial spraying of malathion in Los Angeles County because of an infestation of the crop-destroying Mediterranean fruit fly.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 2, 2020

Ceratitis capitata may be better known by its nonscientific name: the Mediterranean fruit fly, or Medfly to its friends.

From New York Times • Mar. 16, 2014

In the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, laboratory-reared females evolve to be less fussy about who they mate with, and male sexiness changes.

From New York Times • Apr. 13, 2010

"Your cheeks were like the peaches we used to grow before the Mediterranean fruit fly got into them," Alice agreed.

From On the Makaloa Mat by London, Jack