2013 Volume 8 Issue 2 Pages 100-109
Fruit flies are among the most economically important pests in crop production and the highly invasive Bactrocera invadens has rapidly spread across sub-Saharan Africa in recent years. In 2008, Swaziland initiated a national fruit fly surveillance programme to facilitate continued trade with export partners and to develop an early detection and monitoring system for invasive fruit fly species. Fruit fly traps were set up at major border posts, markets and agricultural estates where target host plants of B. invadens are grown. Traps baited with Methyl eugenol, Trimedlure and Cuelure were placed in agricultural estates while only traps with Methyl eugenol were placed at markets and border posts. Fourteen species, dominated by Ceratitis capitata (40.2%), C. rosa (22.7%) and Dacus bivittatus (32.7%) were collected from agricultural estates. There were significant differences in the number of flies trapped per day per trap between lures (p>0.05) and estates (p=0.0204). Only 9 species, dominated by C. rosa, (76.35%) were collected from border posts and markets. There were significant differences in the number of flies trapped between border gates (p>0.05) and none were trapped from the national marketing board. No species of phytosanitary concern were trapped during the survey. However, the country remains vulnerable to invasion by B. invadens due to its reported presence or increased sightings in neighbouring countries. This emphasises the need for continued surveillance to ensure early detection of invasive species, which would enhance the country’s ability to influence the chances of invasive species establishment and spread.
