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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Hilo, Hawaii » Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center » Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #203804
Title: Successful Utilization of the Area-Wide Approach for Management of Fruit Flies in Hawaii

Author
item Vargas, Roger
item MAU, RONALD - UNIV OF HAWAII
item WONG, LYLE - HDOA
item Jang, Eric

Submitted to: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Area-Wide Management of Insect Pests
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2006
Publication Date: 10/5/2006
Citation: Vargas, R.I., Mau, R.F., Wong, L., Jang, E.B. 2006. Successful Utilization of the Area-Wide Approach for Management of Fruit Flies in Hawaii.. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Area-Wide Management of Insect Pests. 31-40.

Interpretive Summary: Four different types of invasive fruit flies have become established in Hawaii. The flies have become a serious problem to the fruit and vegetable industry in Hawaii and they continue to spread to from Hawaii to other parts of the world. A fruit fly control program was begun in 1999 that has resulted in suppression of the fly populations and reduced use of dangerous pesticides.

Technical Abstract: Melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett), Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), and the so-called Malaysian (solenaceous) fruit fly, Bactrocera latifrons (Hendel), have accidentally become established in Hawaii, and attack more that 400 different host fruits. These fruit flies inhibit development of a diversified tropical fruit and vegetable industry, require that commercial fruits undergo quarantine treatment prior to export, and provide a breeding reservoir for their introduction into other parts of the world. Previous fruit fly control measures in Hawaii relied heavily on the application of organophosphate insecticides to crops. In 1999 a 7 yr Area-Wide Pest Management (AWPM) program was initiated for management of fruit flies in Hawaii. The AWPM program integrated two or more control components (field sanitation, protein bait sprays, male annihilation, sterile insects, and parasitoids) into a comprehensive package that has been economically viable, environmentally acceptable, and sustainable. The program has resulted in area-wide suppression of fruit flies, a reduction in use of organophosphate insecticides and impetus for further growth and development of diversified agriculture in Hawaii.