Zeugodacus tau is an important worldwide quarantine pest. The female adults insert their oviposition tube into the fruit epidermis to lay eggs, and the larvae feed inside the fruit. Therefore, the hazard of Z. tau primarily rely on adult egg laying and larval feeding. Zeugodacus tau is widely distributed in China and has caused serious economic losses to the industry of fruit and vegetable. Due to the need for a systematic compilation of basic biological knowledge and the increasing economic importance of fruits and vegetables, this paper systematically summarized the distribution and damage, morphological characteristics, biological characteristics and control strategies of Z. tau. Basic biological knowledge, such as geographical distribution, host species, the characteristics of its damage, spread, and transmission, characteristics of each insect stage, occurrence generations, growth and development, population dynamics, and living habits, will deepen our understanding of Z. tau. Preventive measures, such as risk analysis, prediction of suitable areas and quarantine monitoring, can guide pest prevention for crop production in safe areas. Management measures, such as agricultural control represented by fruit bagging and clean fields, physical and chemical attractants designed and developed by the characteristics of colour, phototaxis and chemotaxis, chemical control based on new green pesticides, biological control supported by predatory and parasitic natural enemies, can fully guide the integrated prevention and control of Z. tau. Depending on the size of the planting management area, both broad-area joint prevention and control as well as localized comprehensive management can be flexibly selected. While ensuring economic benefits, it also takes into account the cost input, and is committed to achieving an economically efficient and long-term green control of Z. tau.