Global Establishment Risk of Economically Important Fruit Fly Species (Tephritidae)

Abstract

The global invasion of Tephritidae (fruit flies) attracts a great deal of attention in the field of plant quarantine and invasion biology because of their economic importance. Predicting which one in hundreds of potential invasive fruit fly species is most likely to establish in a region presents a significant challenge, but can be facilitated using a self organising map (SOM), which is able to analyse species associations to rank large numbers of species simultaneously with an index of establishment. A global presence/absence dataset including 180 economically significant fruit fly species in 118 countries was analysed using a SOM. We compare and contrast ranked lists from six countries selected from each continent, and also show that those countries geographically close were clustered together by the SOM analysis because they have similar fruit fly assemblages. These closely clustered countries therefore represent greater threats to each other as sources of invasive fruit fly species. Finally, we indicate how this SOM method could be utilized as an initial screen to support prioritizing fruit fly species for further research into their potential to invade a region.

Global Potential Distribution of Bactrocera carambolae and the Risks for Fruit Production in Brazil

“…Dipterans of the family Tephritidae, commonly known as fruit flies, are a representative example of distribution expansion in recent years and how biological invasions may have negative consequences for agriculture and natural environments [4]. The family Tephritidae includes approximately 4000 species from 500 genera [5], of which 1500 fruit fly species feed on fruits and more than 250 species cause significant losses in economic important crops [6]. Fruit flies are found in practically all areas of the world where fruits are cultivated, and the abundance and intensity of attacks in some regions have led to nearly total crop failure [6].…”

Advance, retreat, resettle? Climate change could produce a zero‐sum game for invasive species

“…Yonow & Sutherst 1998;Stephens et al 2007). In addition, research has mostly focused on the responses of single species rather than considering general patterns (but see Qin et al 2015). Tephritid fruit flies provide us with a relatively homogeneous group with which to identify patterns in changing threats with climate change patterns.…”

“…The tephritids are major horticultural pests in many tropical and subtropical areas, and are considered a major threat to many other regions (e.g. Stephens et al 2007;Ni et al 2012;Qin et al 2015). New incursions have led to more than 200 eradication programs for a range of 17 species (Suckling et al 2014).…”

“…Export of fruit from fruit fly-infested areas is often prohibited or the fruit must be disinfested before export (Yonow & Sutherst 1998), and thus substantial effort is made to control fruit fly pests in orchards (Vijaysegran 1997). As fruit flies have commanded a high level of quarantine concern globally (Qin et al 2015), a relatively large number of CLIMEX models have been published for various members of the group.…”

Guiding farmers' choice for an integrated pest management program against the invasive Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae) in mango orchards in Tanzania

“…Infestation by fruit flies is a major constraint to fruit production (Lux, 1999) as many species are of quarantine importance (Qin et al, 2015). High mobility and opening of new markets for agricultural products offer greater opportunities for the movement of pests (Griffin, 2000) including fruit flies.…”