Bases for Management of Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Uruguay

In Uruguay, there are two fruit fly species of major economic and quarantine importance Ceratitis capitata and Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera, Tephritidae). Other species present are Anastrepha nigra, Anastrepha littoralis, Anastrepha australis, and Anastrepha dissimilis, all considered of noneconomic importance. The polyphagous species C. capitata and A. fraterculus coexist both in wild and commercially cultivated fruits, so they can develop uninterruptedly throughout the year. Ceratitis capitata has a wider host range, primarily exotic and commercially grown fruit, and performs best in disturbed agroecosystems. Anastrepha fraterculus adapts better to ecosystems with little anthropogenic intervention, and its hosts are mainly native or wild fruit trees. Various factors, including agroecosystem and climatic variables such as temperature and rainfall, play roles in determining the abundance of these populations . Since 2001, Uruguay has implemented the National Surveillance System for fruit flies, although they are not currently under official control. Control measures rely on a combination of insecticides and food attractants (hydrolyzed protein or sugarcane molasses) as bait sprays. Alternative control measures such as mass trapping and sterile insect technique (SIT) gain relevance. Additionally, cultural practices, such as removing infected fruit, have also been recommended to diminish damage in commercial areas.