Bactrocera curvifera (Photo: S. Wilson) DISTRIBUTION: Widespread and common in Papua New Guinea, though uncommon in the Highlands and absent from Manus and Bougainville provinces.
HOST PLANTS: This species has been bred a few times from breadfruit.
BIOLOGY: Not yet studied.
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Probably not a significant pest.
MALE LURE: Methyl eugenol.
QUARANTINE SURVEILLANCE: Methyl eugenol trapping and regular host fruit surveys of breadfruit.
OPTIONS FOR RESPONSE (If newly discovered in a country): Increased trapping, increased host fruit sampling, restriction of fruit movement, protein bait spraying, male annihilation.
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