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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Newark, Delaware » Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #403233
Research Project: Biological Control for Management of Invasive Pest Management, Emphasizing Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Spotted Wing Drosophila and other Invasive Insect Pests of Crops

Location: Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit

Title: Management of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata: past, present and future

Author
item GIUNTI, GIULIA - University Of Salerno
item BENELLI, GIOVANNI - University Of Pisa
item CAMPOLO, ORLANDO - Mediterranean University Of Reggio Calabria
item CANALE, ANGELO - University Of Pisa
item KAPRANAS, APOSTOLOS - University Of Thessalonik
item LIEDO, PABLO - El Colegio De La Frontera Sur (ECOSUR)
item MEYER, MARC DE - Royal Museum For Central Africa
item NESTEL, DAVID - Volcani Center (ARO)
item RUIU, LUCA - University Of Sassari
item SCOLARI, FRANCESCA - Institute Of Molecular Genetics Igm-Cnr
item Wang, Xingeng
item PAPADOPOULOS, NIKOS - University Of Thessaly

Submitted to: Entomologia Generalis
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/2/2023
Publication Date: 12/7/2023
Citation: Giunti, G., Benelli, G., Campolo, O., Canale, A., Kapranas, A., Liedo, P., Meyer, M., Nestel, D., Ruiu, L., Scolari, F., Wang, X., Papadopoulos, N. 2023. Management of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata: past, present and future. Entomologia Generalis. 43:1241-1263. https://doi.org/10.1127/entomologia/2023/2136.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1127/entomologia/2023/2136

Interpretive Summary: The Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) is one of the most economically important invasive horticulture pests worldwide. Medfly is able to feed on more than 300 host plants. Its wide host range, coupled with its rapid reproduction make the medfly one of the most important fruit pests. Native to sub-Saharan Africa, the fly has invaded and widely established in many regions including Pacific islands (including Hawaii) and most of South America. The fly has been consistently detected in southern US states (e.g., California) because of its northward expansion. We examined medfly prevention and management techniques and provide a comprehensive review of currently available methods for monitoring, surveying and forecasting of this pest as well as various management strategies (chemical control, use of green insecticides, cultural control, biological control, sterile insect technique and area-wide integrated pest management).

Technical Abstract: Population monitoring and management of the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae), are still challenging, and are tightly connected to a deep understanding of its biology and ecology. Within this framework, new innovative control approaches and tools are frequently proposed and developed to integrate the available techniques and to overcome the difficulties involved in designing effective Integrated Pest Management programs. Indeed, some biological, ecological, and genetic characteristics of C. capitata can limit the efficacy of classical pest management strategies. This article provides a comprehensive review of the currently available tools, devices and approaches used to monitor and control medfly populations worldwide.