Definition and Determination of Host Status for Multivoltine Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Species

The problems of satisfactorily describing fruit fly host status for quarantine purposes are explored. A definition is provided based on the ability of a commodity to sustain fruit flies from the egg laying stage through to the next generation of reproducing adults. Experimental procedures required to determine host status for multivoltine fruit flies are described. These methods include both laboratory and field cage trials, field collection of fruit, and methods demonstrating fruit fly presence in a study area.