Management of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata: past, present, and future

Abstract

Population monitoring and management of the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae), are still challenging, and are tightly connected to a deep understanding of its biology and ecology. Within this framework, new innovative control approaches and tools are frequently proposed and developed to integrate the available techniques and to overcome the difficulties involved in designing effective Integrated Pest Management programs. Indeed, some biological, ecological, and genetic characteristics of C. capitata can limit the efficacy of classical pest management strategies. This article provides a comprehensive review of the currently available tools, devices and approaches used to monitor and control medfly populations worldwide.