Caribbean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Small Fruit in Florida

Authors: Epsky, Nancy; Kendra, Paul

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/3/2016
Publication Date: 9/25/2016
Citation: Epsky, N.D., Kendra, P.E. 2016. Caribbean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Small Fruit in Florida. Meeting Abstract. XXV International Congress of Entomology (ICE 2016), Orlando, FL. Sept. 25-30, 2016.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Tephritid fruit flies are among the most important pests of fruits and vegetables worldwide. The Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), is a tephritid pest that became established in Florida following introduction in 1965. Populations of this fruit fly also occur in Puerto Rico and Cuba, but distribution is limited in comparison with other tephritid fruit flies. The Caribbean fruit fly is a pest of regulatory concern, and protocols to maintain fly-free areas have been established in Florida to allow export of citrus. Preferred hosts include guava and peach, and presence of Caribbean fruit fly populations limit production of commercial guava in south Florida and may impact production of commercial peach in areas with high populations of this fly. A number of small fruit that are dooryard plantings used as ornamentals or for homeowner consumption are also hosts for this fruit fly. Presence of these dooryard hosts can serve as sources of flies that threaten fly-free areas, and reduce availability of fruit for homeowner use. Control measures include mass trapping using female-targeted traps and lures, as well as new developments in attract-and-kill devices developed for fruit flies. We report herein results of research on effectiveness of these control measures in small fruit. Availability of these tools for dooryard hosts will provide alternatives to bait sprays that could increase production of preferred hosts and decrease threat to fly-free areas in Florida.