Bactrocera obliqua (Malloch)
Female B. obliqua (Photo: S. Wilson) DISTRIBUTION: Recorded by Drew (1989) in East New Britain, Bougainville and Manus provinces (Papua New Guinea). Its actual range is probably more extensive, but host fruit surveying is required to detect the species.
HOST PLANTS: This species has been bred from five host species, in four genera and three families. It is commonly bred from and is a significant pest of guava, mountain apple (Syzygium malaccense (Myrtaceae) and water apple (S. aqueum) and has also been bred from Baccaurea papuana (Euphorbiaceae) and Celastrus sp (Celastraceae).
BIOLOGY: Not yet studied.
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Destructive pest of guava in East New Britain. 28-98% of ripe guavas are infested by mango fly (B. frauenfeldi) and/or B. obliqua.
MALE LURE: This species is not attracted to male lures.
QUARANTINE SURVEILLANCE: Regular host fruit surveys of guava.
OPTIONS FOR RESPONSE (If newly discovered in a country): Increased host fruit sampling, restriction of fruit movement, protein bait spraying.
CONTROL: Fruit bagging, protein bait spraying, destruction of fallen and overripe fruits, early harvest of mature green fruits.
REFERENCES:
Drew, R.A.I. 1989.The tropical fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae: Dacinae) of the Australasian and Oceanian regions. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. Volume 26. 521 pp. (Description and illustration).
Page updated on: 17 October, 2002