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Monitoring Bactrocera Dorsalis

Status of Bactrocera dorsalis:

  • Bactrocera dorsalis (Oriental Fruit Fly) is a quarantine pest of Asian origin capable of infesting various commercial fruit crops (400 recorded hosts). It was previously described as the Invader fruit fly (Bactrocera invadens).
  • It is now found in 65 countries and in most sub-Saharan countries.
    • In South Africa, the official pest status is summarised in Table 1.
  • High BD trap counts were recorded in May 2017. Please note that the areas where it is currently absent are vulnerable to point incursions. These areas should be extra vigilant.

 

Why monitor:

  • Keeping it out of your region is by far the most cost-effective and viable option. Early detection enables the implementation of an eradication programme.
  • Monitoring in regions where BD is present is a requirement for the control of BD.
  • Monitoring of BD and recording of data is a requirement for any special programme (e.g. Exports of Peach & Nectarines to the European Union).
    • Previous years BD monitoring records to be submitted to DAFF as part of the orchard registration process.

 

What do I do if I get a BD in a trap:

  • Notify FruitFly Africa – Contact person: Eloise du Plessis: 021 882 9541, eloise@fruitfly.co.za
  • Place specimen in a closed plastic vial and send it to FruitFly Africa for identification.
  • If confirmed to be BD – a delimiting survey will be instituted.
    • A 5km radius of a trap will be placed under quarantine.
    • A “Removal Permit” is required to move fruit from the quarantine area to a non-infested area. Fruit trading may, therefore, continue in compliance with established additional risk mitigation procedures.
    • If no further BD found for 12 weeks – quarantine lifted and area declared “pest free”.
  • If a second BD is found in the delimited area an eradication programme will be initiated.
    • Eradication control measures (MAT Blocks, Protein Baits, sanitation) implemented for 8 weeks.
    • Monitor for further 4 weeks – If no further BD catches the quarantine lifted and area declared “Eradicated”.

 

Monitoring Guidelines:

 

Table 1: Official status of Bactrocera dorsalis in South Africa for each province in separate district municipalities.

 

Province District Municipality Status
Limpopo Vhembe** Present and subject to  official control
  Mopani** Present and subject to  official control
  Capricorn** Present, only in some areas where host crop(s) are grown, and subject to official control
  Sekhukhune** Present, only in some areas where host crop(s) are grown, and subject to official control
  Waterberg** Present, only in some areas where host crop(s) are grown, and subject to official control
Mpumalanga Ehlanzeni** Present and subject to official control
  Nkangala** Present and subject to official control
  Gert Sibande Absent
North West Ngaka Modiri Molema** Present only in some areas and subject to official control
  Bojanala Platinum** Present at low prevalence, seasonal in some areas and subject to  official control
  Dr Kenneth Kaunda Absent
  Dr Ruth S. Mompati Absent
Gauteng City of Tshwane** Present and subject to official control
KwaZulu Natal iLembe** Present and subject to official control
  King Cetshwayo** Present and subject to official control
  Ugu** Present and subject to official control
  uMkhanyakude** Present and subject to official control
  eThekwini** Present and subject to official control
  Amajuba Absent
  uMgungundlovu Absent
  uMzinyathi Absent
  uThukela Absent
  Zululand Absent
Northern Cape Namakwa Absent
  Pixley ka Seme Absent
  John Taolo Gaetsewe Absent
  Frances Baard Absent
  Z.F. Mgcawu** Transient under surveillance
Free State All districts Absent
Eastern Cape All districts Absent
Western Cape All districts Absent

NOTE: A “Removal Permit” is required to move fruit from an infested districts marked with ** to a non-infested area.

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