Mpumalanga_South Africa

Abstract

hree areas in South Africa were selected for monitoring the oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) populations in order to validate surveillance systems. Nelspruit (Crocodile Valley) and Schoemanskloof (Joubert & Seuns) are citrus producing regions where B. dorsalis populations are established, with large populations. These two areas served as a reference to the dynamics of this fly in Southern Africa. Ermelo-Davos is a heterogeneous extensive region constituted by a town (Ermelo), with home-gardens and dispersed hosts in parks and gardens, large pasture areas and a few abandoned and commercial apple orchards. Bactrocera dorsalis has been intercepted in the past, and it is suspected that the fly is expanding to this region, which was considered in the border of B. dorsalis southern expansion in Africa.