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A. M. Varela, icipe.
Is this a Minor Pest?
Yes
Minor Pest Title
Mango fruit flies (Ceratitis spp./ Bactrocera invadens)
Minor Pest Description
Fruit flies lay eggs under the skin of mature green and ripening fruit. Some fruit flies such as Bactrocera invadens, a new species recently introduced into East Africa, also lay eggs on small fruit. The eggs hatch into whitish maggots within 1 to 2 days. The maggots feed on the fruit flesh and the fruit starts to rot. After 4 to 17 days, the maggots leave the fruit, making holes in the skin.
Adult fruit flies are about 4-7 mm long.
Minor Pest What to do.
- Collect and destroy all fallen fruits at least twice a week during the fruit season.
- Do not put collected damaged fruits into compost heaps. Instead, burn them or bury them at least 50 cm deep, so that the fruit flies cannot reach the soil surface.
- Remove fruits with dimples and those that ooze clear sap. This method is more laborious than picking the rotten fruits from the ground, but it is also more effective.
- Whenever possible, wrap fruit in newspaper or paper bags to prevent fruit flies from laying eggs on the fruit. This has to be done well before the fruit matures.
- Pick overripe fruits, as they attract fruit flies.
- Physical methods include fruit fly traps and fruit bagging, see on Fruit-fly datasheet.
Minor Pest Position
1
Minor Pest Firstcontent
124
Pest Type
insect
Other Crops
Guava
Host Plants
Mango (Revised)
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