Brazil’s Fundecitrus has indicated that fruit flies, along with citrus fruit borers, are primarily responsible for the country’s citrus fruit drop. The organization suggested that monitoring and management must be taken to avoid economic damage, since fruit flies occur throughout the year. Fundecitrus described the fruit flies that cause damage in Brazil and suggested control measures.
Two species of fruit flies have been identified that attack fruit and cause soft rot and fruit drop:
- Anastrepha fraterculus (South American fruit fly) infestations are more intense between the months of March and May. They occur in fruiting plants
- Ceratitis capitata (Mediterranean fruit fly) occurs between July and November. This species attacks the semi-late and late varieties, during the ripening and harvesting of coffee surrounding the citrus stands
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