regional suppression of <em>bactrocera</em> fruit flies (diptera: tephritidae) in the pacific through biological control and prospects for future introductions into other areas of the world

Abstract

<em>Bactrocera</em> fruit fly species are economically important throughout the Pacific. The USDA, ARS U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center has been a world leader in promoting biological control of <em>Bactrocera</em> spp. that includes classical, augmentative, conservation and IPM approaches. In Hawaii, establishment of <em>Bactrocera</em> <em>cucurbitae</em> (Coquillett) in 1895 resulted in the introduction of the most successful parasitoid, <em>Psyttalia</em> <em>fletcheri</em> (Silvestri); similarly, establishment of <em>Bactrocera</em> <em>dorsalis</em> (Hendel) in 1945 resulted in the introduction of 32 natural enemies of which <em>Fopius</em> <em>arisanus</em> (Sonan), <em>Diachasmimorpha</em> <em>longicaudata</em> (Ashmead) and <em>Fopius</em> <em>vandenboschi</em> (Fullaway) were most successful. Hawaii has also been a source of parasitoids for fruit fly control throughout the Pacific region including Australia, Pacific Island Nations, Central and South America, not only for <em>Bactrocera</em> spp. but also for <em>Ceratitis</em> and <em>Anastrepha</em> spp. Most recently, in 2002, <em>F.</em> <em>arisanus</em> was introduced into French Polynesia where <em>B.</em> <em>dorsalis</em> had invaded in 1996. Establishment of <em>D.</em> <em>longicaudata</em> into the new world has been important to augmentative biological control releases against <em>Anastrepha</em> spp. With the rapid expansion of airline travel and global trade there has been an alarming spread of <em>Bactrocera</em> spp. into new areas of the world (<em>i.e.</em>, South America and Africa). Results of studies in Hawaii and French Polynesia, support parasitoid introductions into South America and Africa, where <em>B.</em> <em>carambolae</em> and <em>B.</em> <em>invadens</em>, respectively, have become established. In addition, <em>P.</em> <em>fletcheri</em> is a candidate for biological control of <em>B.</em> <em>cucurbitae</em> in Africa. We review past and more recent successes against <em>Bactrocera</em> spp. and related tephritids, and outline simple rearing and release methods to facilitate this goal.