Exotic Fruit Flies Invade South Florida
August 31, 2015 The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has positively identified the presence of more than 40 Oriental fruit flies (Bactrocera dorsalis) in south Miami-Dade County.
Photo courtesy of FDACS
The initial fly was discovered during routine trapping, and additional flies were discovered during expanded trapping activities. FDACS, along with USDA, monitors more than 56,000 fruit fly traps statewide as an early detection network against exotic fruit fly introductions that threaten Florida’s agriculture industry.
“Though disturbing, this find confirms that our early detection system for pests and disease is among the best in the nation,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam.
The Oriental fruit fly has been trapped several times in Florida since 1964, and each time it has been successfully eradicated. This species is considered one of the most serious of the world’s fruit fly pests due to its potential economic harm. It attacks more than 230 different fruits, vegetables, and nuts, including avocado, fig, grapefruit, guava, loquat, mango, roseapple, papaya, peach, persimmon, Surinam cherry, and white sapote.
The fruit flies lay their eggs in host fruits and vegetables.
To eradicate this pest, treatment is being conducted in a 1.5-square-mile area around the fly detections. This treatment consists of attracting male flies to bait which consists of an attractant, an insecticide, and a thickening agent. The flies are killed when they feed on the bait. The bait mixture is applied weekly to upper portions of telephone and utility poles. The application will continue for one life cycle of the fly, which is approximately 90 days.
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