Report of Bactrocera tau in Okinawa, Japan

Publication Date

Thu, 10 Apr 2025, 06:48

Last Updated

April 10, 2025, 10:05 a.m.

Report Number

JPN-12/4

Country

Japan

Pest Id

Bactrocera tau - (BCTRTA)

Report Status

Final

Hosts

Cucurbitaceae, common bean (kidney bean) (Phaseolus vulgaris), cluster tree (Ficus racemosa (syn. Ficus glomerata)), Mangifera foetida, palmyra palm (Borassus flabellifer), passion fruit (Passiflora edulis), sapodilla (Manilkara zapota (syn. Achras zapota)), Siphonodon celastrineus, Strychnos thorelli, Strychnos nux-vomica, Strychnos rupicola, plum (Prunus salicina)), Tetrastigma leucostaphylum (syn. Tetrastigma lanceolarium), sweet pepper (chili pepper, Shishito pepper) (Capsicum annuum), tomato (including Lycopersicon esculentum (syn. Solanum lycopersicum)), Jamaica cherry (Muntingia calabura), Hydnocarpus anthelmintica, papaya (Carica papaya), jack fruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), guava (Psidium guajava), bell pepper (Capsicum annuum), dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus), Fagraea ceilanica, Ficus tinctoria, rose apple (Syzygium jambos (syn. Eugenia jambos)), pepino (Solanum muricatum), Malay apple (Eugenia malaccensis (syn. Syzygium malaccense)), Myxopyrum smilacifolium, Morinda citrifolia (syn. Morinda elliptica)

Pest Status (ISPM 8 - 2021)

• Present: not widely distributed and under official control

Geographical Distribution

Part of Okinawa Prefecture

Summary

Bactrocera tau flies were detected in part of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Immediately after receiving the report from the Okinawa Prefectural Government, the NPPO determined the infested area through surveillance to establish the boundaries of an area considered to be infested and started to take emergency control measures for containment under the Plant Protection Act from 21 March 2025 in collaboration with the local governments.
The control measures include application of insecticide, removal of infested fruits, and restriction of the movement of host fruits from the infested area to the other areas in order to prevent the spread of the fruit fly.
Detection surveys are also conducted on a regular basis in areas outside of Okinawa Prefecture in order to quickly detect an entry of the fruit fly.

Danger

Bactrocera tau is considered as a significant and damaging pest of Curcurbitaceae plants and is a quarantine pest for Japan under the Plant Protection Act. In Japan, if it is found during import inspection of host plants, the consignments will be destroyed or returned.

Contact for info

[email protected]

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