Eradication of Bactrocera invadens in the Groblersbrug borderpost of South Africa

Publication Date

Thu, 05 May 2011, 00:00

Last Updated

May 4, 2011, 9:01 a.m.

Report Number

ZAF-08/2

Country

South Africa

Pest Id

Bactrocera invadens - (BCTRIN)

Report Status

Final

Hosts

Citrus spp are under immediate threat but other commodities that are exported and considered hosts of this pest and produced or present in this area in South Africa include man, guava, tomato, pepper (Capsicum spp) and several wild African fruits.

Pest Status (old values from ISPM 8 -1998 )

• Absent: pest eradicated

Pest Status (ISPM 8 - 2021)

• Absent: pest eradicated

Geographical Distribution

Bactrocera invadens specimens were detected in Methyl Eugenol baited fruit fly traps in the area of the Groblersbrug borderpost of South Africa adjacent to the Botswana border

Summary

On 21 May 2010 one possible exotic fruit fly specimen was detected in a Methyl Eugenol baited fruit fly trap in the area of the Groblersbrug border post adjacent to the Botswana border. Subsequently, on 15 July 2010, one exotic fruit fly specimen was also detected in another Methyl Eugenol baited fruit fly trap near Groblersbrug. The fruit fly specimens were identified as Bactrocera invadens by the nominated local fruit fly expert and reported to Directorate Plant Health, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in accordance with the relevant legislation and national Action Plan.

Subsequently this identification has been confirmed by an internationally recognised fruit fly taxonomist.

The NPPO of South Africa initiated a delimiting survey on 02 August 2010. A risk assessment was conducted and phytosanitary actions were implemented with immediate effect to prevent the movement of fruit from the area under delimitation. Further delimitation towards the east, south and north of the point of detection was done.

Delimitation towards the west could not extend further due to the restriction of the national border between South Africa and Botswana. Eradication was initiated in the quarantined area on 17 September 2010.

Ground applied male annihilation treatments and air/ground applied protein bait treatments were applied in the area for a period of at least 8 weeks. Monitoring for the fly continued in the area thereafter to determine eradication success. There were no detections of B. invadens for more than 12 weeks, or three life cycles, after the last fruit fly was detected in the quarantine area.

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