Eradicating fruit fly from Carnarvon

Authors

Kingsley Thomas Fisher

Keywords

Ceratitis capitata, Sterile insect release, Biological control, Carnarvon region (W.A.), Western Australia

Disciplines

Biosecurity | Fruit Science | Horticulture | Plant Breeding and Genetics | Sustainability

First Page Number

35

Last Page Number

38

ISSN

0021-8618

Abstract

Late last year the Mediteranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata Weidemann) was eradicated from Canarvon, Western Australia by using an intergrated programme of sterile insect releases and bait spraying.

The eradication marked the end of a four-year study on the use and effectiveness of the Sterile Insect Technique, a biological control technique which uses an insect pest against itself. such a study can be used as a basis for treating other threatening insect pests, such as the serious cattle pest screw-worm fly, should they be found in Asustralia.

Being a biological control method, the Sterile Insect Technique is an exellent supplement to chemical control. The technique has none of the harmful, residual effects of chemicals and it works on that part of the pest population which chemicals have failed to control.

Recommended Citation

Fisher, Kingsley Thomas (1985) "Eradicating fruit fly from Carnarvon," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol. 26: No. 2, Article 2.
Available at: https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol26/iss2/2