Apr 19, 2023

Invasive fruit fly discovered in south Florida

After discovery of an invasive fruit fly in a south Florida city, Florida agriculture inspectors have set up traps to keep the invasive species from spreading.

The peach fruit fly can harm many fruits grown in south Florida, according to a news release from the city of Weston, Florida.

Inspectors located one male peach fruit fly in a trap near Davie, Florida, in Broward County. Weston borders Davie. A perimeter has been established that includes a number of municipalities as buffers, according to the release.

In economic impact, “the pest is active throughout much of the year, and in many places considered a very serious pest of crops, and would devastate many of the fruits grown in southern Florida,” according to the release.

The pest attacks up to 50 different host fruits and plants, including apples, peaches, pomegranates, mangos, guava, apricots, figs and citrus. Other hosts include sugar apple, bitter gourd, date palm, okra, papayas, paradise apples, quinces, sweet oranges and tropical almond.

“The Division of Plant Industry (DPI) at this time is only increasing vigilance by placing more traps within the vicinity as a proactive approach to locate any additional flies,” according to the release. “These fruit flies are NOT established here and the Division of Plant Industry is working hard to keep it that way.

In late April, Aaron Keller, communications director for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in Tallahassee, Florida, said there were no updates on trapping of the pest.

More information about invasive fruit flies can be found here.