Fruit flies in the mediterranean and Arab World : how serious a threat are they and how can we minimize their impact

Abstract EN

Tephritid Fruit flies are found distributed throughout the Mediterranean and Arab world and cause considerable economic damage to fruit and vegetable crops.

With increasing emphasis on quality of fruit and vegetable produce and with the expansion of trade in horticultural commodities, the importance of good fly management policies is vital.

Phytosanitary measures and quarantine checks are increasingly necessary to prevent transport to areas free of the infestation.

It is fortunate that there are a range of effective control measures that can be employed alone and/or in combination and new techniques are being sought.

Cooporation across countries / region is also increasingly essential to combat the threat of fruit flies.