http://www2.tbo.com/business/2012/feb/29/officials-closely-monitor-fruit-fly-population-ar-363282/

Officials closely monitor fruit fly population

By TRACY HODGES | Central Florida's Agri-Leader
Published: February 29, 2012

As the owner of citrus trees in Polk County, I am well aware of the damage fruit flies can cause.

For the past several years, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has placed white, tent-like traps in two of my citrus trees to monitor fruit flies.

This year is no exception, as I now have traps in a grapefruit tree and one in an orange tree.

Since the sighting of the guava fruit fly in Orlando in late 2011, officials have been concerned an infestation could occur. The Orange County sighting sparked an increased effort to control fruit flies, with more than 55,000 traps being placed around Central Florida.

First detected in the state in 1999, the guava fruit fly has not become well-established in Central Florida. However, officials are concerned enough about this damaging pest to implement trapping programs around the state.

Most fruit flies are found in residential areas instead of large, commercial groves. This is why traps are placed in areas with homes. If a serious infestation were to take place, the guava fruit fly could become a big pest of citrus, guava and peach trees.

A heavy fruit fly outbreak also could affect trees such as castor bean, sapodilla, fig, mango, tropical almond and sandalwood. Finding new fruit flies would indicate the pest has expanded its host range, threatening Florida's agricultural crops.

After being placed in citrus trees, the traps are checked once a week to determine if the guava fruit fly is reproducing in that area. If no new flies are found, the traps are checked once each week for 60 days, which is three fruit fly life cycles.

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Guava fruit fly development is slower in colder temperatures, but the warm winter temperatures in Central Florida could make development more favorable.

The guava fruit fly is covered mostly in black with lateral yellow stripes. Adult fruit flies lay their eggs inside the flesh of the fruit, remaining there until the larvae hatch.

It typically takes only a few days for the larvae to hatch and begin feeding on the inside of the fruit. The damaged fruit turns into a mushy mess, becoming inedible in a matter of days.

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Finding just a few fruit flies in and around the state may not signal a serious problem for our crops. However, if populations rise, serious crop loss could occur.

There are some things local growers can do to help manage fruit flies. Proper sanitation is key to keeping these pests to a minimum. Fruit should be picked as soon as it ripens. Any fruit that falls to the ground should be checked for wiggling maggots just underneath the skin.

If larvae is found, burying the fruit deep in the ground will kill them.

Small outbreaks of fruit flies can be controlled with insecticide baits and sprays, as well. Avoid spraying fruit trees with heavy insecticides, as this could kill beneficial insects such as parasitic wasps that help keep fruit flies under control.

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The guava fruit fly isn't the only fruit fly local growers must be concerned about. In the past few years, several other species have been found around the state.

The peach fruit fly was spotted in Miami-Dade County in late 2010. Florida officials are also concerned about the peach fruit fly, which has a wide host range.

Among its favored hosts are eggplant, mango, guava, peach, melon, citrus, almond, fig and loquat. Other Florida sightings include Mediterranean fruit flies in Palm Beach County and Oriental fruit flies in Pinellas County, both of which were in 2010. Officials believe these pests are brought in Florida on infested fruit and plant material.

Florida hasn't seen fruit flies in epidemic proportions since the late 1990s, when a massive outbreak in Hillsborough and Manatee counties cost millions to control.

However, all growers around Central Florida must be vigilant in monitoring fruit flies and notify state officials if any are spotted.

While fruit flies are potentially damaging to crops, they are not the only pest concern. Stormy Sparks, professor of entomology at the University of Georgia, warns growers to be on the lookout for three more pests this growing season.

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The European pepper moth was first spotted in Florida in 2010 and has made its way north to Georgia. This moth is primarily a greenhouse pest but could spread to other plants.

In its adult form, the European pepper moth does not damage plants but lays its eggs on them.

Upon hatching, the larvae feeds on the plant.

Another pest to watch for is the Kudzu bug, which looks similar to a stinkbug. This pest primarily feeds on beans such as soybeans, snap and lima.

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Lastly, Sparks warns that the brown marmorated stinkbug could make a comeback this growing season. Although this pest hasn't been spotted in Florida or Georgia in the past few years, an outbreak could cause serious damage to tomatoes, beans, corn and peppers.

In our warm climate, this stinkbug could have as many as three generations in one year. Females typically lay up to 400 eggs during their lifetime.