Researcher and educator on horticultural market access entomology specialising in pest fruit flies. Phone: +61 (0) 422775290 Address: PO Box 3394 Bateau Bay. NSW 2261 AUSTRALIA
This degree-day graph shows that the development of Queensland fruit fly [Qff] (Bactrocera tryoni... more This degree-day graph shows that the development of Queensland fruit fly [Qff] (Bactrocera tryoni) varies from place to place in Southeastern Australia. Overwintering adults are predicted to have been able to mate and lay eggs in four locations but not in the two southernmost regions during the period from 1 July 2024 to 11 September 2024.
Data are derived from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology website, a degree-day worksheet [DegDay (Snyder 2002, revised 2005)] and author's observations.
It's an interesting demonstration of the differences in heat unit accumulation between geographical locations.
This graph of half-hour temperature readings in and around a Navel orange tree in the winter show... more This graph of half-hour temperature readings in and around a Navel orange tree in the winter shows how variable conditions are due to position, time of day and prevailing weather conditions. Immature and mature life stages of pest fruit flies are present they may be able to persist throughout winter by being in the right place at the right time.
High variation in temperatures in and around orchard trees may assist in the survival of immature... more High variation in temperatures in and around orchard trees may assist in the survival of immature and adult pest fruit flies. Average temperatures across 8 days' readings at various points in and around an orange tree were quite stable but temperature ranges varied considerably.
Australian pest fruit flies, especially the Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni, Froggatt) ar... more Australian pest fruit flies, especially the Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni, Froggatt) are particularly responsive to the environment. Much is known, or at least surmised about this but many questions remain to be answered. This discussion paper attempts to identify and discuss some of these issues. THIS IS A PERSONAL DISCUSSION AND MAY NOT BE COMPLETELY FACTUAL – IT’S BASED ON MY OWN “EDUCATED GUESSES”. THEY ARE, I THINK, WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION.
Just a very brief tabulation of some published and unpublished data on dimensions of some morphol... more Just a very brief tabulation of some published and unpublished data on dimensions of some morphological characters of Bactrocera dorsalis, Hendel (Oriental fruit fly) showing some variation between references and due to competition for resources within larval substrate.
A one-page resumé of host fruits for Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni), their yearly seaso... more A one-page resumé of host fruits for Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni), their yearly seasonality and fruit fly infestation risk and seasonal fruit fly activity for the Sunraysia region (which has a Mediterranean climate) in Australia.
While sorting through some old unpublished data I found this table showing the effects of fly siz... more While sorting through some old unpublished data I found this table showing the effects of fly size on various morphological characteristics of adult Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis). These are preliminary, non-analysed data collected by Andrew Jessup, Dr Nwe New Yin and Viwat Wornoayporn in 2009 and are presented in the interest of the scientific community.
A look at mouth hooks (cephalo-pharyngeal skeleton) of 1st, 2nd and 3rd install larvae of the Aus... more A look at mouth hooks (cephalo-pharyngeal skeleton) of 1st, 2nd and 3rd install larvae of the Australian cucumber fly, Zeugodacus cucumis. Photo by John Arcsher, NSW DPI, 2014.
An interesting laboratory interspecific cross-breeding exercise crossing Bactrocera dorsalis (Ori... more An interesting laboratory interspecific cross-breeding exercise crossing Bactrocera dorsalis (Oriental fruit fly) with B. zonata (peach fruit fly). Photos by Viwat Wornoayporn and Thilak Dammalage of the FAO/IAEA Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Seibersdorf, Austria.
Updated list of various internet-based sources of information on biology and management of Queens... more Updated list of various internet-based sources of information on biology and management of Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni, Froggatt) in Australia.
This is a list, with photos, of the variety of traps designed for monitoring pest fruit fly speci... more This is a list, with photos, of the variety of traps designed for monitoring pest fruit fly species found on the internet and from my own research. Most traps are shown with photos and internet addresses. Type of trap shown include sticky traps, traps with added toxicant, male-targeting, female-targeting, electronic, old, etc. Could be useful for students and new researchers in this field to see what's been thought of previously and what's out there in the world of fruit fly traps.
The whole community can learn about pest fruit flies and how they damage your backyard plants and... more The whole community can learn about pest fruit flies and how they damage your backyard plants and then spread out to other gardens and commercial crops and damage them, too. We can learn how to control these insects in our yards and orchards and stop them from surviving over winter and spreading out across the community from spring to autumn. Regional Fruit Fly Coordinators, State and Federal Governments, local Councils and other interested and affected groups release information on radio, TV, Facebook and other social media outlets as well as in community and industry workshops, schools, scouts and community clubs. The more people know about fruit flies and how to manage them the quicker the problem can be brought under control-and the whole community benefits. When the community realises that one female fruit fly can live for over 2 months and, in that time, lay over 1,500 eggs and produce 400 mature adult male flies and 400 mature adult female flies, people readily understand that one fly can cause a lot of trouble. If you add to that the knowledge that just 9 poorly looked after feijoa trees producing about 10,000 fruit can also produce well over 120,000 mature adult fruit flies in just one season you can see how quickly the problem can get out of hand. That is, over 60,000 females-many of which could then live for another two months (or longer in the winter) and then produce another 400 females each… The maths is compelling! 2. FRUIT FLY HOST PLANT REMOVAL If you have fruiting plants in your yard, paddock, along channel banks or anywhere else, you should look after them so that fruit flies do not attack them. If you don't want them, or if it's too much trouble looking after them please think about pulling them out or chopping them down. You can always replace them with a beautiful ornamental plant or a shade tree. Some Councils offer a free tree-removal service so please ask them or your local Fruit Fly Coordinator. If there are no fruit trees, then there will be a lot fewer fruit flies roaming around.
This degree-day graph shows that the development of Queensland fruit fly [Qff] (Bactrocera tryoni... more This degree-day graph shows that the development of Queensland fruit fly [Qff] (Bactrocera tryoni) varies from place to place in Southeastern Australia. Overwintering adults are predicted to have been able to mate and lay eggs in four locations but not in the two southernmost regions during the period from 1 July 2024 to 11 September 2024.
Data are derived from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology website, a degree-day worksheet [DegDay (Snyder 2002, revised 2005)] and author's observations.
It's an interesting demonstration of the differences in heat unit accumulation between geographical locations.
This graph of half-hour temperature readings in and around a Navel orange tree in the winter show... more This graph of half-hour temperature readings in and around a Navel orange tree in the winter shows how variable conditions are due to position, time of day and prevailing weather conditions. Immature and mature life stages of pest fruit flies are present they may be able to persist throughout winter by being in the right place at the right time.
High variation in temperatures in and around orchard trees may assist in the survival of immature... more High variation in temperatures in and around orchard trees may assist in the survival of immature and adult pest fruit flies. Average temperatures across 8 days' readings at various points in and around an orange tree were quite stable but temperature ranges varied considerably.
Australian pest fruit flies, especially the Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni, Froggatt) ar... more Australian pest fruit flies, especially the Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni, Froggatt) are particularly responsive to the environment. Much is known, or at least surmised about this but many questions remain to be answered. This discussion paper attempts to identify and discuss some of these issues. THIS IS A PERSONAL DISCUSSION AND MAY NOT BE COMPLETELY FACTUAL – IT’S BASED ON MY OWN “EDUCATED GUESSES”. THEY ARE, I THINK, WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION.
Just a very brief tabulation of some published and unpublished data on dimensions of some morphol... more Just a very brief tabulation of some published and unpublished data on dimensions of some morphological characters of Bactrocera dorsalis, Hendel (Oriental fruit fly) showing some variation between references and due to competition for resources within larval substrate.
A one-page resumé of host fruits for Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni), their yearly seaso... more A one-page resumé of host fruits for Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni), their yearly seasonality and fruit fly infestation risk and seasonal fruit fly activity for the Sunraysia region (which has a Mediterranean climate) in Australia.
While sorting through some old unpublished data I found this table showing the effects of fly siz... more While sorting through some old unpublished data I found this table showing the effects of fly size on various morphological characteristics of adult Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis). These are preliminary, non-analysed data collected by Andrew Jessup, Dr Nwe New Yin and Viwat Wornoayporn in 2009 and are presented in the interest of the scientific community.
A look at mouth hooks (cephalo-pharyngeal skeleton) of 1st, 2nd and 3rd install larvae of the Aus... more A look at mouth hooks (cephalo-pharyngeal skeleton) of 1st, 2nd and 3rd install larvae of the Australian cucumber fly, Zeugodacus cucumis. Photo by John Arcsher, NSW DPI, 2014.
An interesting laboratory interspecific cross-breeding exercise crossing Bactrocera dorsalis (Ori... more An interesting laboratory interspecific cross-breeding exercise crossing Bactrocera dorsalis (Oriental fruit fly) with B. zonata (peach fruit fly). Photos by Viwat Wornoayporn and Thilak Dammalage of the FAO/IAEA Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Seibersdorf, Austria.
Updated list of various internet-based sources of information on biology and management of Queens... more Updated list of various internet-based sources of information on biology and management of Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni, Froggatt) in Australia.
This is a list, with photos, of the variety of traps designed for monitoring pest fruit fly speci... more This is a list, with photos, of the variety of traps designed for monitoring pest fruit fly species found on the internet and from my own research. Most traps are shown with photos and internet addresses. Type of trap shown include sticky traps, traps with added toxicant, male-targeting, female-targeting, electronic, old, etc. Could be useful for students and new researchers in this field to see what's been thought of previously and what's out there in the world of fruit fly traps.
The whole community can learn about pest fruit flies and how they damage your backyard plants and... more The whole community can learn about pest fruit flies and how they damage your backyard plants and then spread out to other gardens and commercial crops and damage them, too. We can learn how to control these insects in our yards and orchards and stop them from surviving over winter and spreading out across the community from spring to autumn. Regional Fruit Fly Coordinators, State and Federal Governments, local Councils and other interested and affected groups release information on radio, TV, Facebook and other social media outlets as well as in community and industry workshops, schools, scouts and community clubs. The more people know about fruit flies and how to manage them the quicker the problem can be brought under control-and the whole community benefits. When the community realises that one female fruit fly can live for over 2 months and, in that time, lay over 1,500 eggs and produce 400 mature adult male flies and 400 mature adult female flies, people readily understand that one fly can cause a lot of trouble. If you add to that the knowledge that just 9 poorly looked after feijoa trees producing about 10,000 fruit can also produce well over 120,000 mature adult fruit flies in just one season you can see how quickly the problem can get out of hand. That is, over 60,000 females-many of which could then live for another two months (or longer in the winter) and then produce another 400 females each… The maths is compelling! 2. FRUIT FLY HOST PLANT REMOVAL If you have fruiting plants in your yard, paddock, along channel banks or anywhere else, you should look after them so that fruit flies do not attack them. If you don't want them, or if it's too much trouble looking after them please think about pulling them out or chopping them down. You can always replace them with a beautiful ornamental plant or a shade tree. Some Councils offer a free tree-removal service so please ask them or your local Fruit Fly Coordinator. If there are no fruit trees, then there will be a lot fewer fruit flies roaming around.
How the Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) survives in gardens and orchards throughout the ... more How the Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) survives in gardens and orchards throughout the year.
A look at some "interspecific" hybridisation studies on different so-called species in the Bactro... more A look at some "interspecific" hybridisation studies on different so-called species in the Bactrocera dorsals species complex carried out by researchers at the International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria in the early 2010s.
Queensland fruit fly biology, ecology, trapping and baiting, physical exclusion and other control... more Queensland fruit fly biology, ecology, trapping and baiting, physical exclusion and other control strategies are discussed.
Background: Adult flies of the genus Bactrocera (McQuart) share remarkably similar morphologies. ... more Background: Adult flies of the genus Bactrocera (McQuart) share remarkably similar morphologies. Some species within this genus are so similar that questions have been raised as to their status as real species. This is especially the case for some species within the Bactrocera dorsalis cryptic species complex. Another example is the relationship between B. tryoni and B. aquilonis and between B. tryoni and B. neohumeralis. It has also been observed that there can be marked variability within species in vittae size, colouring and the dimensions of the body, wings and genitalia.
Background: The native Australian pest fruit fly, the Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni, Fr... more Background: The native Australian pest fruit fly, the Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni, Froggatt) has, in the past few years, broadened its range into areas that were previously only marginal as to year round survival. These new regions tend to be much cooler in the winter than the pest's normal habitat on the moister, more temperate to subtropical east coast of Australia. The question is – Has Queensland fruit fly acclimatised to these cooler winter climates? If this is the case will populations of this pest expand earlier in the season than is currently thought? Alternatively, it is possible that the observed over wintering of flies in these previously marginal areas could be due to pre-winter populations being large in a few spots with the consequent higher probability of individuals finding shelter, surviving, finding a mate and host fruit and ovipositing.
The quality parameters of Queensland fruit fl ies produced at the Camden sterile fruit fl y produ... more The quality parameters of Queensland fruit fl ies produced at the Camden sterile fruit fl y production facility during the 1998/99 season were examined. Production with an average pupal weight of 11.0 mg was not positively related to egg hatch percentage and emergence parameters, contrary to results in the previous year. Heavier pupae were linked to lower fl ight ability of irradiated but not non irradiated fl ies. It is proposed that the ‘bigger is better’ principle probably plateaus below the 11 mg weight but was still apparent in last year’s results with an average pupal weight of 9.2 mg. The week of production had a signifi cant effect on pupal emergence, fl ight ability and egg hatch percent but not on pupal weight.
Breve etude de l'efficacite de la fumigation des fruits (pommes) places dans des cartons muni... more Breve etude de l'efficacite de la fumigation des fruits (pommes) places dans des cartons munis ou non d'ouvertures. Le type d'emballage a peu d'effets sur l'efficacite du traitement de meme que sur les teneurs en residus de fumigant
Eureka' and 'Lisbon' lemons were artificially infested with immature life stages of Q... more Eureka' and 'Lisbon' lemons were artificially infested with immature life stages of Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (=Dacus tryoni Froggatt), or Mediterra- nean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), and stored at 1 :t 0.2°C. Dose-mortality data from infested fruit held in cold storage for up to 14 d showed that first-instar B. tryoni and second-instar C. capitata were the life stages most tolerant of cold. From >43,000 B. tryoni first instars and >30,000 C. capitata second instars, none survived to pupation after storage at 1°C for 14 d. Storage of lemons at 1°C for up to 32 d had no adverse effects on fruit quality.
Preliminary studies were conducted on the potential for hot water, methyl bromide with or without... more Preliminary studies were conducted on the potential for hot water, methyl bromide with or without cold storage, and gamma irradiation as quarantine treatments against eggs of Fuller's rose weevil on oranges intended for export to Japan. There was complete inhibition of egg hatch when infested Valencia oranges were dipped in water at 46°C for 75 min but there was severe damage to the fruit. Water dips at 50°C for 2 and 10 min and 52°C for 2 and 7 min reduced egg hatch by up to 66% with no fruit damage. Fumigation with 20 g/m3 methyl bromide (MB) for 2 h at 17°C followed by storage for 8 d at 1°C reduced egg hatch by 45%. Fumigation with 45 g/m3 MB at 17°C for 2 h and irradiation at 300 Gy reduced egg hatch by 98% and 95%, respectively.
Quality parameters at the Camden sterile fruit fly production facility during the 1997/98 season ... more Quality parameters at the Camden sterile fruit fly production facility during the 1997/98 season were examined, particularly in their relationship with pupal weight. Percent emergence was positively related to pupal weight while lifespan was negatively related. There was no relationship between flight ability and pupal weight. The Flight Ability Index was adversely affected by irradiation. These results were compared with field reports and overseas information, which largely agreed with the facility data. The possible impact on sterile release programs is discussed.
New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 2011
A series of trials, using standard bioassay procedures followed by large-scale export tests, were... more A series of trials, using standard bioassay procedures followed by large-scale export tests, were conducted on five table grape cultivars at 1°C, 2°C and 3°C against the Mediterranean fruit fly (MFF) and the Queensland fruit fly (QFF). MFF was found to be more tolerant to cold treatment than QFF as shown in tests required to achieve complete mortality in >100,000
Page 1. .I Aust. ent. Soc., 1993, 32: 97-98 97 HOST STATUS OF SOME AUSTRALIAN-GROWN CUCURBITS TO ... more Page 1. .I Aust. ent. Soc., 1993, 32: 97-98 97 HOST STATUS OF SOME AUSTRALIAN-GROWN CUCURBITS TO BACTROCERA TR YONI (FROGGATT) (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE) UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS AJ JESSUP ...
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 2014
Mutualistic bacterial endosymbionts provide many benefits to their insect hosts, but their role i... more Mutualistic bacterial endosymbionts provide many benefits to their insect hosts, but their role in mating has not been studied in the past. In this study, we examined copulatory success and mating latency as two parameters of mating success to assess the influence of Candidatus Erwinia dacicola on mating between a laboratory population of olive flies (Bactrocera oleae Rossi) of Israel origin and a wild population of olive flies from Israel. Previous studies have shown that in many species of tephritid flies, laboratory-reared males have lower fitness and achieve fewer matings thanwildmales. Our research has shown that this Israeli population of olive flies reared in the laboratory on an artificial diet lacked an endosymbiont, Ca. E. dacicola, found in wild-caught insects from Israel. We hypothesized that decreased fitness and mating ability in laboratory-reared flies could be due to the absence of this endosymbiont. Mating assays between both sexes of these two Israeli populations revealed matings to occur primarily between laboratory-reared females and wild males. Laboratory-reared males achieved only 22% of the total matings. Candidatus Erwinia dacicola was found in significantly fewer insects from the laboratory population than in the wild population; within populations, male and female olive flies were equally likely to have the endosymbiont. However, differences in readiness tomate between the two populations, and not the presence of the endosymbiont, explained mating latency.
Four morphologically cryptic species of the Bactrocera dorsalis fruit fly complex (B. dorsalis s.... more Four morphologically cryptic species of the Bactrocera dorsalis fruit fly complex (B. dorsalis s.s., B. papayae, B. carambolae and B. philippinensis) are serious agricultural pests. As they are difficult to diagnose using traditional taxonomic techniques, we examined the potential for geometric morphometric analysis of wing size and shape to discriminate between them. Fifteen wing landmarks generated size and shape data for 245 specimens for subsequent comparisons among three geographically distinct samples of each species. Intraspecific wing size was significantly different within samples of B. carambolae and B. dorsalis s.s. but not within samples of B. papayae or B. philippinensis. Although B. papayae had the smallest wings (average centroid size=6.002 mm±0.061 SE) and B. dorsalis s.s. the largest (6.349 mm±0.066 SE), interspecific wing size comparisons were generally non-informative and incapable of discriminating species. Contrary to the wing size data, canonical variate analys...
ABSTRACT Bactrocera papayae Drew & Hancock, Bactrocera philippinensis Drew &a... more ABSTRACT Bactrocera papayae Drew & Hancock, Bactrocera philippinensis Drew & Hancock, Bactrocera carambolae Drew & Hancock, and Bactrocera invadens Drew, Tsuruta & White are four horticultural pest tephritid fruit fly species that are highly similar, morphologically and genetically, to the destructive pest, the Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae). This similarity has rendered the discovery of reliable diagnostic characters problematic, which, in view of the economic importance of these taxa and the international trade implications, has resulted in ongoing difficulties for many areas of plant protection and food security. Consequently, a major international collaborative and integrated multidisciplinary research effort was initiated in 2009 to build upon existing literature with the specific aim of resolving biological species limits among B. papayae, B. philippinensis, B. carambolae, B. invadens and B. dorsalis to overcome constraints to pest management and international trade. Bactrocera philippinensis has recently been synonymized with B. papayae as a result of this initiative and this review corroborates that finding; however, the other names remain in use. While consistent characters have been found to reliably distinguish B. carambolae from B. dorsalis, B. invadens and B. papayae, no such characters have been found to differentiate the latter three putative species. We conclude that B. carambolae is a valid species and that the remaining taxa, B. dorsalis, B. invadens and B. papayae, represent the same species. Thus, we consider B. dorsalis (Hendel) as the senior synonym of B. papayae Drew and Hancock syn.n. and B. invadens Drew, Tsuruta & White syn.n. A redescription of B. dorsalis is provided. Given the agricultural importance of B. dorsalis, this taxonomic decision will have significant global plant biosecurity implications, affecting pest management, quarantine, international trade, postharvest treatment and basic research. Throughout the paper, we emphasize the value of independent and multidisciplinary tools in delimiting species, particularly in complicated cases involving morphologically cryptic taxa.
ABSTRACT Blueberry (Northern Highbush, cv ‘Brigitta’) and raspberry (cv ‘Maravilla’) fruit were s... more ABSTRACT Blueberry (Northern Highbush, cv ‘Brigitta’) and raspberry (cv ‘Maravilla’) fruit were subject to low dose gamma irradiation (0, 150, 400 and 1000 Gy) and stored at 0 °C for three or ten days (blueberry) and two or seven days (raspberry) to determine the effects of irradiation on fruit quality and nutritional and proximate contents. In general, none of the irradiation doses (≤1000 Gy) significantly affected blueberry or raspberry fruit quality (overall fruit quality, colour, firmness, weight loss, TSS, TA levels or TSS/TA ratio), or the nutritional or proximate content (ash, carbohydrate, dietary fibre, energy, moisture, protein, sodium, potassium, total sugars, fructose, ascorbic acid, monomeric anthocyanin, citric and malic acids). The length of time in storage affected some fruit quality and nutritional and proximate content parameters (such as overall fruit quality, firmness, weight loss, TA levels, dietary fibre, potassium, ascorbic acid, citric and malic acids), with longer storage periods resulting in lower quality fruit, irrespective of irradiation treatment. No interaction was detected between the effects of irradiation treatment and storage time, indicating that the storage effect was consistent for all irradiation doses on both blueberry and raspberry fruit quality.
Studies have been completed at the New South Wales Agriculture Horticultural Research and Advisor... more Studies have been completed at the New South Wales Agriculture Horticultural Research and Advisory Station, Gosford on the feasibility of mass-rearing the wasp Diachasmimorpha tryoni with the aim of controlling Queensland fruit fly by inundative release. This is a form of biological control consistent with Integrated Pest Management procedures and could foreseeably be a component of the Tri-State Sterile Insect Release Program. The combination parasitoid / sterile insect release technique for fruit fly control is practised in Hawaii and Florida and has proven effective.
Results of our studies show that the Opiine Braconid Diachasmimorpha tryoni is present in large numbers on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. This species is native to the East Coast of Australia and parasitises the native Queensland fruit fly, Island fruit fly and wild tobacco fruit fly (Solanum fruit fly) as well as the exotic Oriental fruit fly, Mediterranean fruit fly and others.
During this project the wasp has been found as adults amongst fruiting citrus (especially cumquats, mandarins and grapefruit), loquats, peaches, flowering peaches, persimmons and feijoas. It has also been recovered from parasitised Queensland fruit fly and Island fruit fly infesting feijoas, loquats and Triumph grapefruit.
Attempts to rear large quantities of the wasp in the laboratory and then to release them into the field have been successful. Wasps were released at the nearby Somersby Research Station in a deciduous fruit tree block at a rate of about 2,000 parasitoids per week during late Spring to early Autumn. At the same time about 60,000 sterile Queensland fruit fly per fortnight were released in the same area. Due to the releases a population of the wasp has become established at the Somersby Research Station where there were previously no wasps. To become established the wasps must be parasitising fruit fly larvae thus reducing fruit fly populations. The effectiveness of releases of wasps and sterile Queensland fruit fly in reducing Queensland fruit fly populations will not be known until the end of the 1997/98 season. However initial fruit fly populations in Spring, 1997 (ie following releases of parasitoids and sterile fruit flies) are well below those in Spring, 1996 (before releases).
A second Opiine wasp, Diachasmimorpha arisanus, an imported egg/larval parasitoid, was also discovered in significant numbers in Queensland fruit fly pupae. This wasp was reared to the fourth laboratory generation showing that it, too, can be mass-reared.
The benefits of rearing both species are that Diachasmimorpha tryoni attacks late second and third instar fruit fly larvae and Diachasmimorpha arisanus parasitises eggs and early firs instar fruit fly larvae.
During the course of the experiments described in this report it was discovered that Diachasmimorpha tryoni does enter a type of diapause. A proportion of each cohort remains inside their host’s puparium. These individuals emerge some two to ten weeks after normal, non-diapausal adult emergence. “Late” insects which emerge first are predominantly female whereas normally males emerge before the females. It is thought that these “late” insects, being mainly female, serve as the “pioneers” for future generations.
Preliminary mass-trapping trials in southeastern Australia were conducted to assess the ability o... more Preliminary mass-trapping trials in southeastern Australia were conducted to assess the ability of BioTrap® fruit fly trapping systems to capture male and female fruit flies. These trials were "proof of concept", carried out prior to setting up large scale field trials to assist in application for regulatory approval to use trapping systems with pesticdes. Data from the preliminary trials indicate that male-biased BioTrap® CL and female-biased BioTrap®-Gel trap and lure systems trap as many, or more Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni Froggatt).
The project reported here presents four models which can be used to predict Queensland fruit fly ... more The project reported here presents four models which can be used to predict Queensland fruit fly (Qff) proliferation post-winter throughout Australia. These models are driven by the three-way relationship between Qff maturation through its various life stages, weather conditions up to and including harvest and cherry phenology.
Studies carried out on the southern climatic margin of the Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryon... more Studies carried out on the southern climatic margin of the Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni, Froggatt) [Qff] habitat in Australia show that Qff has established in some areas that were hitherto considered too cold for year-round survival. This report looked at Qff on the urban and rural landscapes as well as its winter-related ecology in this region.
A listing of various websites dealing with Australian pest fruit flies – especially Queensland fr... more A listing of various websites dealing with Australian pest fruit flies – especially Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni, Froggatt). Updated 12 April 2020.
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FRUIT FLY INFORMATION by Andrew Jessup
Data are derived from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology website, a degree-day worksheet [DegDay (Snyder 2002, revised 2005)] and author's observations.
It's an interesting demonstration of the differences in heat unit accumulation between geographical locations.
THIS IS A PERSONAL DISCUSSION AND MAY NOT BE COMPLETELY FACTUAL – IT’S BASED ON MY OWN “EDUCATED GUESSES”. THEY ARE, I THINK, WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION.
Type of trap shown include sticky traps, traps with added toxicant, male-targeting, female-targeting, electronic, old, etc.
Could be useful for students and new researchers in this field to see what's been thought of previously and what's out there in the world of fruit fly traps.
Data are derived from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology website, a degree-day worksheet [DegDay (Snyder 2002, revised 2005)] and author's observations.
It's an interesting demonstration of the differences in heat unit accumulation between geographical locations.
THIS IS A PERSONAL DISCUSSION AND MAY NOT BE COMPLETELY FACTUAL – IT’S BASED ON MY OWN “EDUCATED GUESSES”. THEY ARE, I THINK, WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION.
Type of trap shown include sticky traps, traps with added toxicant, male-targeting, female-targeting, electronic, old, etc.
Could be useful for students and new researchers in this field to see what's been thought of previously and what's out there in the world of fruit fly traps.
Results of our studies show that the Opiine Braconid Diachasmimorpha tryoni is present in large numbers on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. This species is native to the East Coast of Australia and parasitises the native Queensland fruit fly, Island fruit fly and wild tobacco fruit fly (Solanum fruit fly) as well as the exotic Oriental fruit fly, Mediterranean fruit fly and others.
During this project the wasp has been found as adults amongst fruiting citrus (especially cumquats, mandarins and grapefruit), loquats, peaches, flowering peaches, persimmons and feijoas. It has also been recovered from parasitised Queensland fruit fly and Island fruit fly infesting feijoas, loquats and Triumph grapefruit.
Attempts to rear large quantities of the wasp in the laboratory and then to release them into the field have been successful. Wasps were released at the nearby Somersby Research Station in a deciduous fruit tree block at a rate of about 2,000 parasitoids per week during late Spring to early Autumn. At the same time about 60,000 sterile Queensland fruit fly per fortnight were released in the same area. Due to the releases a population of the wasp has become established at the Somersby Research Station where there were previously no wasps. To become established the wasps must be parasitising fruit fly larvae thus reducing fruit fly populations. The effectiveness of releases of wasps and sterile Queensland fruit fly in reducing Queensland fruit fly populations will not be known until the end of the 1997/98 season. However initial fruit fly populations in Spring, 1997 (ie following releases of parasitoids and sterile fruit flies) are well below those in Spring, 1996 (before releases).
A second Opiine wasp, Diachasmimorpha arisanus, an imported egg/larval parasitoid, was also discovered in significant numbers in Queensland fruit fly pupae. This wasp was reared to the fourth laboratory generation showing that it, too, can be mass-reared.
The benefits of rearing both species are that Diachasmimorpha tryoni attacks late second and third instar fruit fly larvae and Diachasmimorpha arisanus parasitises eggs and early firs instar fruit fly larvae.
During the course of the experiments described in this report it was discovered that Diachasmimorpha tryoni does enter a type of diapause. A proportion of each cohort remains inside their host’s puparium. These individuals emerge some two to ten weeks after normal, non-diapausal adult emergence. “Late” insects which emerge first are predominantly female whereas normally males emerge before the females. It is thought that these “late” insects, being mainly female, serve as the “pioneers” for future generations.
Available on:https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/naipc/twd/Documents/Biotrap_Evaluation_Jessup.pdf
Available on: https://www.horticulture.com.au/globalassets/laserfiche/assets/project-reports/cy13012/cy13012-final-report-465.pdf
Available on: http://www.cdfga.com.au/uploads/7/3/3/1/73315223/winter_fruit_fly_program_-_hia_grant_final_report__1_.pdf