Kiribati is a Micronesian country made up of 33 low islands and atolls (823 km˛) with the exception of Banaba which is raised to 87 m above sea level. According to the 2000 census, the total population for Kiribati is 84,494. The majority of the population which is 78,158 lives in the Gilbert Group. The isolated Phoenix Group has a population of 61 residing on Canton Island. The remote Line Group comprising of Fanning Island, Washington Island and Christmas Island has a population of 1757, 1087 and 3431 respectively. Therefore, the total population for the Line Group is 6336.
Fruit fly survey and quarantine surveillance was initiated in June 1996 and an emergency response plan for exotic fruit flies has been formulated. For more information, please contact:
Mr. Nakabuta Teuriaria, Plant Protection Officer, Division of Agriculture,
Ministry of Environment, Lands & Agriculture Development,
PO Box 267,
Bikenibeu, Tarawa, Kiribati
Phone: (686) 28108 FAX: (686) 28121
Email: agriculture@tskl.net.kiMs. Teaaro Otiuea, Assistant Agriculture Officer - Plant Protection/Quarantine,
Division of Agriculture,
Ministry of Environment, Lands & Agriculture Development,
PO Box 267,
Bikenibeu, Tarawa, Kiribati
Phone: (686) 28108 FAX: (686) 28121
Email: agriculture@tskl.net.ki
Quarantine awareness sign at Tarawa airport terminal (Photo: L. Leblanc).
FRUIT FLY SPECIES: Mango fly (Bactrocera frauenfeldi) is common on every island of the Gilbert Group. Melon fly (B. cucurbitae) was discovered in 1987 on Christmas Island, imported with infested cucumbers from Hawaii. A two year interruption to cucurbit cropping was apparently sufficient for its eradication. A survey carried out in October 2002 has confirmed its absence from the island.
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF FRUIT FLIES: Infestation levels by mango fruit fly has been reduced to approximately 50% on ripe guava and 70% on Indian jujube in Tarawa.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Surveys. 1. Established permanent trapping sites in South Tarawa and Christmas island. Trap sites made up of one trap baited with methyl eugenol and one with Cue-lure. There is evidence from the data during the first half of this year that there is a reduction in the number of flies trapped in the Cue Lure traps at most of the sites on South Tarawa. 2. The work on fruit collection on Tarawa and the other islands for adult flies emergence has been temporarily suspended, however, it will continue again in the near future.
Pest status. 3. Determined, by the damage caused on fruits that the damage has been reduced to about 50% on guava and 70% on Indian jujube.
Development of National expertise: 4. Provided training to quarantine, extension staff, Agriculture trainees and students on recognition of mango fly and trap servicing.
Emergency response planning: 5. Increased preparedness to detect quickly an incursion of an exotic fruit fly species and drafted an Emergency Response Plan to eradicate any introduction of a new unwanted species.
STATUS OF QUARANTINE SURVEILLANCE (as of October 2007): There are five(5) trapping sites in South Tarawa and two(2) trapping sites in Christmas Island, with Cue-lure and methyl eugenol traps on each trapping site. Samples of breadfruits, tropical almonds and Tahitian chestnuts are regularly collected as part of quarantine surveillance. There are fruit fly posters at the airport and the wharf, quarantine bins at the airport, and quarantine awareness announcements on radio.
REFERENCES:
Leblanc, L. 1997. Fruit fly fauna in Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Palau, Kiribati, Northern Marianas and Marshall Islands. pp. 64-67 in: Allwood, A.J., Drew, R.A. I. 1997. Management of Fruit Flies in the Pacific. ACIAR Proceedings No. 76. 267pp.
Teuriaria, N. 1999. Emergency response plan for exotic fruit flies on Tarawa Atoll. Draft. 14pp.
Teuriaria, N. 1999. Report on fruit fly activities in Kiribati. 2pp.
Waterhouse, D.F. 1993. Pest fruit flies in the Oceanic Pacific. pp. 4-47 in: Biological control. Pacific Prospects. Supplement 2. ACIAR Monograph No 20. viiii+138pp.
Download Pest Advisory Leaflet on Mango Fly in English (344 Kb)
Page updated on: 17 October, 2007