Eradication of Bactrocera invadens in Levubu area, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Publication Date

Tue, 06 Mar 2012, 00:00

Last Updated

July 5, 2012, 9:01 a.m.

Report Number

ZAF-19/2

Country

South Africa

Pest Id

Bactrocera invadens - (BCTRIN)

Report Status

Final

Hosts

Citrus spp and other commodities including man, guava, tomato, pepper (Capsicum spp) and several wild African fruits that are exported and considered hosts of this pest and produced or present in this area in South Africa are no longer under threat.

Pest Status (old values from ISPM 8 -1998 )

• Transient: actionable, under eradication

Pest Status (ISPM 8 - 2021)

• Present: transient

Geographical Distribution

One possible exotic fruit fly specimen was detected in a Methyl Eugenol baited fruit fly trap in the Levubu area of the Limpopo Province, approximately 80 km from the Zimbabwe border.

Summary

On the 17 August 2011, one possible exotic fruit fly specimen was detected in a Methyl Eugenol baited fruit fly trap in the Levubu area of the Limpopo Province, approximately 80 km from the Zimbabwe border. The NPPO of South Africa initiated a delimiting survey on the 05 September 2011 in accordance with the South African Bactrocera invadens Action Plan. Subsequently, another specimen was collected on the 06 September 2011, in a separate Methyl Eugenol baited trap.

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 was confirmed on the 03 October 2011 by an internationally recognised fruit fly taxonomist. A risk assessment was conducted and phytosanitary actions were implemented to control the movement of fruit from the area under delimitation.

Eradication was initiated on the 17 October 2011, which includes the application of weekly protein bait sprays and the deployment of male annihilation blocks in the quarantine area. Ground applied male annihilation treatments and air/ground applied protein bait treatments were implemented 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. The status of the pest in this area is: Eradicated.

Danger

Nature of immediate or potential danger of Bactrocera invadens has been prevented by successful eradication.

Report files

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