Megaselia scalaris (Diptera: Phoridae) can live on ripe bananas--a potential health hazard?

OBJECTIVE

Identification of larvae that inest bananas and investigating its habits.

DESIGN

Laboratory based study.

SETTING

Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.

METHODS

Bananas brought to the department with a query of maggot infestation were examined and the presence of maggots was confirmed. Maggots were allowed to develop into adults. The larvae and the flies were identified using standard keys.

RESULTS

Megaselia scalaris was identified, the larvae of which infest ripe bananas. Three generations of M scalaris were reared using ripe bananas as the only source of food. Two other banana specimens yielded larvae that eventually grew into adult flies of Bactrocera species.

CONCLUSIONS

In addition to Bactrocera spp. larvae of which are known pests in bananas, M scalaris larvae were detected as pests for the first time. We demonstrated that M scalaris can complete its life-cycle depending on ripe bananas as the only source of food. The vast consumption of bananas and the potential of M scalaris to cause intestinal and wound myiasis in humans make these findings medically important.