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Fruit flies are among the most destructive horticultural pests. For Queensland fruit fly (Qfly), Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae), the sterile insect technique (SIT) is the main control method used in southeastern Australia. SIT involves the mass rearing of Qfly, sterilisation of pupae by irradiation, transport to release centres, and release of sterile Qfly to disperse into the environment. Mating of sterile and wild flies results in no offspring; thus, the wild population rapidly decreases. Previously, research has mainly focused on improvements within the production facility. However, transport from production facility to release sites is also an essential component in all SIT programs. Here, we examined historical records from the Victorian SIT program between 2002 and 2013 in three seasons (spring, summer, and autumn). We compared quality control (QC) data of irradiated fly pupae at the mass‐rearing facility in New South Wales (limited transport) to those of pupae transported to a release centre in Victoria (extensive transport). After extensive transport, pupal weight (−0.3 mg, or −3%) and flight ability (an overall 26% decline) were lower across all seasons, but particularly in spring. Adult emergence was lower across all seasons (an overall 23% decline), but particularly in summer. All three QC parameters were more variable after extensive transport. We discuss potential causes of the observed decreased pupal quality and avenues of future research to mitigate transport losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tephritid fruit flies are major economic pests and are an impediment to trade. Different host fruits are known to vary in their capacity for fruit flies to complete their life cycle. However, currently there are few reports that identify the capacity for Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) (Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt)) to complete their life cycle in different hosts. Here, we harvested backyard fruit from infested areas and assessed how many adult flies could be produced from a kilogram of fruit after field infestation. We found loquat, kumquat, peaches and nectarines (in that order) produced the highest number of Qfly adults (>175 adults per kg). This knowledge will assist pest managers and the development of trade standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is a most promising methodology for effective control of the Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) , Bactrocera tryoni, a major horticultural pest of Australia. The Qfly SIT has a long history, with a significant amount of research invested, and numerous releases of sterile insects, mainly in NSW and Victoria. In SIT operations worldwide, a reliable insect marking technique is a prerequisite for the successful discrimination among wild and laboratory reared flies in the field, allowing for estimation of wild populations and effective over flooding ratios. For quarantine purposes, often the same requirements apply for declared pest free areas following successful SIT releases programs. A great amount of variation in fluorescent dye performance and visibility has been recorded from several Qfly SIT release projects in the past. Here, we review the past experience from those operations, and the current and developing methods for the marking and identification of Qfly that were mass reared and irradiated for sterile releases. We highlight problems arising from less successful use of fluorescent dyes, and we present novel methodologies that have the potential to substitute the dye in future operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, the authors report the first sighting of solenopsis mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in New South Wales in February 2017. The bug was detected on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Also cited are the host plants of P. solenopsis including Solanaceae, Asteraceae, and Chenopodiaceae.

The Queensland fruit fly (Qfly; Bactrocera tryoni Froggatt) is a major horticultural pest species in Australia and considered a serious quarantine concern, both domestically and internationally. When a Qfly outbreak is declared in the main horticultural regions of southeast Australia, a 15 km radius suspension zone is established (area of 707 km2) around the epicentre of the outbreak. This suspension radius was originally adopted in the early 1990s. Here, we analysed trapping data in New South Wales (Australia) from 2002 to 2010 to evaluate the suitability of the 15 km suspension radius. There were 439 Qfly incursions recorded in Qfly-free zones, but only 9.9% of these incursions resulted in a declared outbreak. For these outbreaks, we conducted two distinct analyses. First, we modelled the distribution of infestation radii from the outbreaks and predicted the suspension distance using multiple levels of risk protection (e.g. probit 8.7, probit 9). Second, we fitted various probability distributions to individual fly trapping data and then estimated upper confidence limits for suspension distances, based on dispersal patterns of Qfly. Overall, the predicted suspension radii were substantially smaller than the current 15 km radius. Our results concur with other studies suggesting that Qfly are relatively poor colonisers. We propose that the current 15 km could be reduced substantially to 3 or 4 km. • Queensland fruit flies disperse much shorter distances compared to current perceptions. • Generally, dispersal is much less than one kilometre. • Current quarantine distances are excessive and result in needless disinfestation. • Quarantine distances of 3–4 km are supported by the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Australia, tephritids are usually attracted to either cuelure or methyl eugenol. Methyl eugenol is a very effective lure, but cuelure is less effective likely due to low volatility. A new formate analogue of cuelure, melolure, has increased volatility, resulting in improved efficacy with the melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae Coquillett. We tested the efficacy of melolure with fruit fly species in Sydney as part of the National Exotic Fruit Fly Monitoring programme. This monitoring programme has 71 trap sites across Sydney, with each trap site comprising separate Lynfield traps containing either cuelure, methyl eugenol, or capilure lure. In 2008, an additional Lynfield trap with melolure plugs was added to seven sites. In 2009 and 2010, an additional Lynfield trap with melolure wicks was added to 11 trap sites and traps were monitored fortnightly for 2 yr. Capture rates for melolure traps were similar to cuelure traps for Dacus absonifacies (May) and Dacus aequalis (Coquillet), but melolure traps consistently caught fewer Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) than cuelure traps. However, trap sites with both a cuelure and melolure traps had increased capture rates for D. absonifacies and D. aequalis, and a marginally significant increase for B. tryoni. Melolure plugs were less effective than melolure wicks, but this effect may be related to lure concentration. The broader Bactrocera group species were attracted more to cuelure than melolure while the Dacus group species were attracted more to melolure than cuelure. There is no benefit in switching from cuelure to melolure to monitor B. tryoni, the most important fruit fly pest in Australia., (© The Authors 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)