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Understanding Queensland fruit fly A brief overview of the life, ecology and behaviour of the Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni, Froggatt) Andrew Jessup Research Horticulturist NSW Department of Primary Industries andrew.jessup@dpi.nsw.gov.au +61 (0)2 4348 1965
Pest fruit flies in Australia >270 Tephritid fruit flies in Australia (about 80 attack fruit, 7 of which are pests of commercial fruits and vegetables) [over 4,250 world wide of which 1,400 attack fruits] Not all of these pest fruit flies exist in all production areas in Australia e.g. no Medfly in Eastern Australia and no Queensland fruit fly in WA.
Pest fruit flies and pest free areas in Australia Mediterranean fruit fly Queensland fruit fly Qld fruit fly new incursions Tropical pest fruit fly species K T Fruit Fly Pest Free Areas Tasmania Major pest fruit fly species: R S Y B G Bactrocera tryoni Ceratitis capitata Bactrocera jarvisi Bactrocera neohumeralis Bactrocera frauenfeldi Bactrocera musae Bactrocera cucumis Bactrocera aquilonis
Fruit fly life cycle
Queensland fruit fly adult (Male) Ovipositor (stinger) Queensland fruit fly adult (Female)
Males band together and release sex pheromones to attract females Photo from Melon fly Sterile Insect Program, Okinawa, Japan
If the male is accepted by the female they will mate. This occurs at dusk providing temperature is suitable. Both males and females need a minimum of 5 days after leaving their pupal case to reach sexual maturity providing both sexes have fed on protein sources. Note: The flies above are not Queensland fruit fly they are closely related Melon fly which does not exist in Australia
Female Queensland fruit fly laying eggs into a wild fig Female Queensland fruit fly s ovipositor ( stinger )
Fruit fly sting marks in nectarine (L.) and loquats (R.) Fruit fly sting marks are not easily seen in blueberries (L.) and cherries (R.)
Eggs hatch within a minimum of 24 to 48 hours Larvae grow in length from about 2mm (first larval instar [stage]), through 5mm (second larval instar) to 8 to 10mm (third larval instar) in fruit over a minimum of 7 days up to 40 days in cool weather and then jump out of the fruit.
First and second instar larvae in a cherry (L.) and blueberry (R.) Fruit fly damage (internal) in an orange (L.) and peach(r.)
Fruit fly damage (external) in an orange (L.) and peach(r.)
If Queensland fruit fly populations are high they will attack small, immature, green fruit such as these peaches from the Hunter Valley, NSW
After leaving the fruit the larvae become pupae and stay in the ground or mummified fruit for a minimum of 10 days up to about 20 days in cool weather
After a minimum of 10 days the adult fly emerges from the pupal case. It takes one to two weeks for the flies to mature, mate and lay more eggs. - 1 generation takes 22 to about 70 days
2 days (min.) 10 days (min.) The Queensland fruit fly life cycle, from sexually mature adult to sexually mature adult, takes a minimum of around 22 days. This period increases at lower temperatures but may fail if temperatures are too low or too high for too long a period. 5 days (min.) 1 day (min.) 2 days (min.) 2 days (min.)
Fruit flies in the orchard
Where do fruit flies go in winter? A winter night at Somersby: Parts of this citrus tree, in particular around exposed trunk and branches, remained warmer than the rest of the canopy and surrounding area. These sections of the tree release absorbed heat for several hours. Fruit flies would over-night here if they could find it.
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Q.: How many fertile offspring can one Queensland fruit fly POTENTIALLY produce after mating just once? In the lab a single female fruit fly laid eggs for 66 days She produced 2,015 eggs from which 970 pupae developed [eggs to pupae: about 50%] A.: 824 fertile adult flies (422 males and 402 females) developed from those 970 pupae [pupae to fertile female adult flies: about 40%] Eggs to fertile adult flies: about 40% Eggs to fertile female adult flies: about 20%
Q.: UNTENDED FRUIT TREES: How many fruit flies were produced from trees that were not looked after? A.: From 9 trees (9,920 fruit) we got 120,645 flies
depending on weather, availability of fruit and predation 1 generation (egg to egg) takes 22 to 70 days the average adult fly lives from 2 to 4 months one mated female could produce 400 female and 400 male offspring in her life time
Fruit fly traps and baits
FEMALE TRAPS BAITS TRAPS BAIT STATIONS
1 3 2 1. Queensland modified Steiner trap 2. Bio-Trap 3. Jackson or Delta trap in the USA MALE TRAPS 4. NZ Lynfield trap with slow release CL and fumigant toxicant 5. NSW Lynfield traps (fore: Standard trap; rear: trap with Bugs for Bugs lure) 6. ProbodeltYellow Cone trap 4 5 6
1. Bugs for Bugs Fruit Fly Trap Pro+ 2. Wild May cue lure liquid trap 3. Lure for Bugs-for- Bugs trap or as a stand alone lure 4. Standard Caneite block with CL and malathion 5. Amulet CL lure with fipronil 1 2 4 5 3 2 MORE MALE TRAPS AND PADS
AND A LOT MORE!
Some new prototype male lures may be better than the standard CUE LURE but need to be tested in the field Product A Cue lure
Making baits and traps work best: timing and placement Effect of heat on the attractancy and component efficacy of traps and baits if a trap is IN THE SUN and outside temp is 28 C it can be up to 45 C inside flies won t enter and bait becomes denatured Aligning traps and baits to fruit fly habits which change due to season current research is showing that food based traps and baits show improved kill of males and females during late autumn and early spring Don t trap or bait just at harvest time trap and bait BEFORE & AFTER HARVEST this will stop fruit fly numbers building up at harvest or by next season s harvest
When a trap, or bait, is positioned so that it is exposed only to themorning SUN it attracts more flies than if placed in other positions. Traps and baits remain moist a little longer, collect morning dew and are more attractive to flies at that time of day. Baits and lures will not overheat and will retain their attractancy for longer and flies are more likely to enter traps that are cool. New data suggest that baits placed HIGHER in the canopy(>2m) than previously recommended (1.2m) work better
Position of traps and baits
SUMMARY 1. AUGUST/SEPTEMBER: Place out monitoring traps male and female check traps each week and bait once a week if fly numbers in traps increase to trigger point 2. SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER:Check traps more often, apply baits more than once a week if necessary 3. NOVEMBER TO MARCH: Checktraps often, apply baits and, if necessary, apply cover spray (with APVMA approval or permit, following label instructions); clean up windfalls 4. MARCHTO AUGUST: Keep female traps out and bait, if necessary, every two weeks; after harvest clean up