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Fruit flies are important pests of fruits and vegetables. They cause significant economic losses to farmers. This study was conducted to determine the fruit fly species present in Oman, their distribution and host plants. Fruit samples were collected from different locations around Oman during 2019 and 2020. Fruits were kept in jars with sand until larvae emerged and pupated. Fruit flies were identified morphologically using characteristic features on the thorax, abdomen, and wings and molecularly via DNA extraction, PCR, and sequencing procedures. There were nine fruit fly species in Oman. The polyphagous Bactrocera dorsalis and Bactrocera zonata were collected from fruits of different trees (mostly cultivated fruit trees), while Dacus ciliatus was collected from cucurbit fruits (cultivated and wild cucurbits such as Citrullus colocynthis or Handhal). Bactrocera cucurbitae was collected from fruits of cultivated cucurbits. Carpomiya vesuviana and Carpomiya incompleta were collected from fruits of Ziziphus species (wild and cultivated). Dacus persicus was collected from the wild plant, Calotropis procera (Sodom's apple or Shakhar). Bactrocera oleae was collected from fruits of wild olive (Olea europea) in AlJabal AlAkhdhar area. Capparimiya savastani was collected from flower buds of wild Capparis species, mostly from C. cartilaginea. Except for B. cucurbitae (not found so far in Dhofar) and B. olea (found only in Addakhilyyeh governorate), most fruit fly species were found in all of the surveyed governorates. Both B. dorsalis and B. cucurbitate have been recorded only on cultivated host plants. The most widely distributed fruit flies were B. zonata and D. ciliatus. Two species, C. savastani and B. olea, are confirmed to be present in Oman for the first time. Molecular fingerprinting allowed the correct identification of Dacus persicus, as specimens from Oman were previously known in error as D. longistylus, a closely related species found in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit fly species in Oman were investigated via sampling of fruits from cultivated and wild plants and hanging traps. A total of 13 species of tephritids were identified using morphological and molecular techniques. Three unidentified species could be new to science. Moreover, 2-3 species of braconid parasitoids and one figitid species, mostly associated with fruit fly infested Ziziphus fruits, were collected. A new lure for female fruit flies, consisting of a combination of urea and watermelon seeds, exhibited effectiveness on par with commercial lures such as torula yeast and Ceratrap. In terms of physical barriers, row covers significantly reduced zucchini fruit damage even when applied as a wall around the planting line. An experiment, involving combining growing melon in the greenhouse with a honeybee hive for flower pollination, proved successful in producing a large number of undamaged fruits. In terms of biological control, we managed to set up a system for rearing of major pestiferous fruit fly species and their parasitoids. We currently have two active cultures of Bactrocera zonata and B. dorsalis, and one active culture of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (DL), a braconid parasitoid imported from Kenya. We hope in the future to produce large numbers of DL wasps for augmentative release in Oman. Fruit fly cultures have served as stock for testing plant extracts as repellents against female B. zonata and B. dorsalis and for testing Beauveria bassiana formulations for control of adults and larvae of B. zonata. Studies of Fruit fly population dynamics and height of flight have shown that yellow sticky traps, set at different heights from 0.5 to 3.5 m, captured significantly more males than females. Additionally, most fruit flies were captured at 2m and lower. The population of male B. dorsalis in ME traps was highest from April to June, and lowest from November to January. Conversely, the population of male B. zonata in ME traps peaked from September to December, and dropped to its lowest levels from April to July. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]