Status of Bactrocera invadens surveillance in South Africa

8 June 2010

On 5 May 2010, exotic fruit fly specimens were detected in surveillance
traps in the northernmost part of the Limpopo province adjacent to the
Zimbabwe border. They were later identified as Bactrocera invadens, a
quarantine pest of serious concern to the Southern African region.

A delimiting survey was deployed by Department of Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries directorates Plant Health and Agricultural Product
Inspection Services (APIS) on 12 May 2010 to determine the geographical
extent of the occurrence.

A risk assessment was conducted and phytosanitary control and
containment actions were implemented with immediate effect to control
the movement of fruit from the area under delimitation according the
provisions of Regulation R110. Further actions may include eradication
procedures, pending the final results of the delimiting survey.

Bilateral communications with the relevant technical governmental
counterparts in neighbouring countries are underway.

The South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
started a national Exotic Fruit Fly Surveillance project in January
2006, when a network of fruit fly traps was set up as an early warning
system to detect exotic fruit flies, such as Bactrocera invadens, also
known as the Invader fruit fly.

Traps were placed in production areas, alongside road transects, at
ports of entry and in urban areas close to municipal garbage dumps,
hotels, sports grounds and other strategic places countrywide.

This survey was conducted in close cooperation with various role players
over the years, including fruit industry representative bodies, fruit
importers and fruit processors.

During 2008, Mozambique, Namibia and Zambia reported the occurrence of
the Invader fruit fly in their respective countries. This southern
movement and the occurrence of the fruit fly in the territories of
several of South Africa's trading partners led to an intensified
national surveillance project, especially alongside the northern and
eastern borders of South Africa.

The fruit industry was recognised as a key role player to assist with
the surveillance. Subsequently, Citrus Research International (CRI),
Citrus Growers' Association (CGA), the Deciduous Fruit Producers Trust
(DFPT/Hortgro), the South African Table Grape Industry (SATI) and the
Subtropical Growers Association became more intensely part of the
official national exotic fruit fly detection survey.

For more information contact:

Steve Galane
Tel: 012 319 7960
Fax: 012 319 6943
Cell: 083 635 7346

Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
8 June 2010