Guam is single large island (541 km˛, 406m) United States Territory.
Several species of parasitoids were introduced to control fruit flies between 1937 and 1967, but only Psyttalia fletcheri, a melon fly parasitoid, became established. Quarantine surveillance against fruit flies on Guam is funded by the Territory government and conducted by the Department of Agriculture. An interesting melon fly control system is used by some farmers in Guam, consisting of yellow sticky traps and yeast baits. Government staff claim that it reduces levels of infestation on cucurbit crops. Socioeconomic studies for the options of melon fly management and eradication in Guam and CNMI has been completed in March 2000 and July 2002. For additional information on the fruit fly programme in Guam, please contact:
Dr. Russell Campbell, Entomologist and Chief of Plant Protection Inspection Service
Department of Agriculture, PO Box 2950, Mangilao, 96923, Guam
Tel: (671) 646-1651 / 649-7822 FAX: (671) 647-6029
Email: rcampbell@netpci.comGuam Department of Agriculture Website: http://www.admin.gov.gu/doa/GOVGUAMID/DOAGR-ID_1.html
FRUIT FLY SPECIES: Oriental fruit fly (B. dorsalis) was introduced to Guam and first detected in 1948. It was eradicated from Guam and CNMI by an intensive male annihilation, protein bait spraying and sterile insect technique campaign that lasted between 1962 and 1965. Melon fly (B. cucurbitae) was also introduced to Guam, and first detected in 1936. Bactrocera ochrosiae is the other species that is widespread and endemic to Guam and CNMI. This non-economic species is attracted to Cue-lure.
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF FRUIT FLIES: Melon fly causes considerable losses on cucurbit crops, though no specific data are available.
ACHIEVEMENTS: 1. Completion of the economic assessment on the feasibility of eradicating melon fly in Guam and CNMI. This report is available upon request with the Guam Entomologist and Chief, Plant Protection Inspection Service. 2. A seminar on fruit fly control strategies was conducted at the Guam University Agricultural faculty on 7 November 2003. The seminar was part of a series of workshops held in CNMI and Guam. The seminar was attended by farmers, representatives from the Department of Agriculture and University of Guam. As a result of the workshop, staff from the Department of Agriculture and farmers have commenced field control methods for melon fly in Guam. A modified plastic drinking bottle was used by staff at the Plant Protection Inspection Service for male annihilation techniques for farmers.
Plastic bottle trap used for male annihilation technique in Guam (Photo: ET. Vueti)
STATUS OF QUARANTINE SURVEILLANCE (as of October 2007 There are sites with 6 Cue-lure traps, 9 methyl eugenol traps and 5 Trimedlure traps. Fruit fly posters have been set up at the airport and a quarantine awareness programme is run in schools, newspapers and on the radio.
REFERENCES:
Boyle, K. 1993. Eradicating the melon fly from Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: A benefit-cost analysis. United States Department of Agriculture - Soil Conservation Service. Report. 44pp.
Campbell, R. 1996. Territory of Guam. Quarantine surveillance plan for fruit flies. Emergency response plan for fruit flies. Draft. 7pp.
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.
McGregor, A. 2000.A review of the economic feasibility of eradicating melon fly from Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 15pp.
McGregor, A., Vargas, R. 2002. The eradication of melon fly from Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: a benefit-cost analysis. 41pp.
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 Melon Fly in English (192 Kb)
Page updated on: 17 October, 2007