Recent Bactrocera fruit fly area-wide management programs in the Pacific

Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are among the most economically important pests attacking soft fruits worldwide. Bactrocera is a tephritid fly genus of at least 440 species distributed primarily in tropical Asia, the south Pacific, and Australia. However, these species have been spreading throughout the world at an alarming rate over the past 15 yr. Oriental fruit fly (B. dorsalis) has become established and is spreading throughout islands in French Polynesia. Carambola fruit fly (B. carambolae) is established and spreading throughout areas of South America. B. invadens, B. latifrons and melon fly (B. cucurbitae) are established and spreading in Africa. The peach fruit fly (B. zonata) is established and spreading in Africa and the Mediterranean region. In addition every year Bactrocera species are accidentally introduced from various parts of the world into California, requiring expensive treatment programs. This presentation will review current area-wide management programs and new technologies for suppression in the Pacific Region against Bactrocera fruit flies in French Polynesia, Hawaii and California.