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Markets Public Health |
Tephritid Fruit Flies The Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata), or Medfly, is one of the world’s most destructive agricultural pests. The female Medfly injects her eggs into ripening fruit so that the larvae can feed on the soft pulp. Bacteria and fungi enter through the hole and cause the fruit to rot. The Medfly has spread to almost all tropical and subtropical areas of the world and infests over 200 plant types. SIT programs have been used to successfully free the USA, Chile, Mexico and Patagonia from Medfly infestations. To prevent re-establishment in the USA, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) releases sterile medflies in California and Florida year-round and supports MOSCAMED, a cooperative program to control medflies in Mexico and Guatemala. The El Pino Medfly production facility in Guatemala produces over two billion sterile medflies per week to support these programs. Oxitec is collaborating with the USDA to develop more cost-effective Medfly strains.
The Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) is an important agricultural pest in Mexico, parts of Central America and the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, where it readily attacks more than 50 fruit types including citrus, mango and avocado. The US and Mexican governments cooperate in a program to suppress Mexican fruit fly and prevent its spread. Activities include monitoring traps, releasing sterile flies, checking fruit at road stations, treating fruit imports, and regulating fruit shipments from quarantined areas. Sterile Mexflies are produced at facilities in Mission, Texas and in Metapa in Mexico. Oxitec is collaborating with the USDA to develop more effective Mexfly strains.
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