''Anastrepha fraterculus'', known as the South American fruit fly, is a fruit fly species from the genus Anastrepha. ''A. fraterculus'' is a polyphagous, frugivorous fly that is a significant pest of commercial fruit production in South America.
Similar species: True Flies
By Ferdy Christant
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Uploaded Jan 9, 2022. Captured Nov 7, 2021 21:24 in X8M9+JM Tandayapa, Ecuador.
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Here's something shiny and beautiful! Can you believe that it's a fruit fly?!
Unfortunately, Anastrepha fraterculus (known as the South American fruit fly), is a significant pest of commercial fruit production. Its range extends from South America into the southern United States.
As a highly polyphagous insect, it can infest at least 110 host plants, including guava, citrus, and apples.
There are many methods used to try to control these insects -- pesticides, biological control, and something really intriguing called the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). SIT is an environmentally-friendly method in which masses of sterilized males are released in a target area. When these sterile males mate with females in the wild, there are no offspring. This technique has been lauded as one of "the greatest entomological achievements of the 20th century". {Anastrepha fraterculus spotted in Ecuador by Ferdy Christant} #JungleDragon #Anastrephafraterculus
https://www.facebook.com/jungledragonwildlife Posted 3 years ago