The tephritid fruit fly Bactrocera invadens, described as a new species in March 2005, has invaded tropical Africa - apparently from the Indian sub-continent. B. invadens was first recorded in Kenya in February 2003, and was subsequently found in Tanzania in July 2003. Within the span of one year, it was recorded from several countries in West and Central Africa, extending from DR Congo to Senegal. The sequential finding of B. invadens does not necessarily represent, however, a point of introduction and subsequent spread in continental Africa. Our present knowledge of the ecology and biology of B. invadens indicates that this is a highly invasive and polyphagous species with high reproductive potential. Known hosts in West and Central Africa include citrus, mango, cashew, papaya, guava, pepper, and several wild host plants, with high infestation rates of fruits of some of the host plant species. In Benin and Cameroon, where continuous male trapping has been in place for nearly a year, male abundance in methyl eugenol traps shows at least one peak and one trough corresponding respectively to peak rain and peak dry seasons. While B. invadens is already widely distributed in Africa, this species appears to be most adapted to low-land humid regions. Taken together, all available information on its rapid continental spread, host range, and reproductive potential indicate that B. invadens is a highly invasive species with substantial destructive potential. The international scope of this species requires an equally international effort to contain its spread and develop and implement integrated options for its control.