Preventive Control of Ceratitis capitata on Remote Islands in Belize

The entire territory of Belize is free of the medfly (Ceratitis capitata), and the Belize Agricultural Health Authority implements a Medfly Surveillance Programme to maintain the free status. The Sapodilla Cayes are about 45 miles from the mainland and straddle the barrier reef of Belize, thereby attracting tourists, mostly from neighboring countries. Those visitors at times bring prohibited agricultural products, and as a result, Mediterranean fruit fly, medfly (Ceratitis capitata), larvae may be introduced into these fresh fruits. Since 2000, the Sapodilla islands have been part of the Medfly Surveillance Programme. Sporadic medfly detections on these islands started in 2001, and all were eradicated. In 2009, after a period of zero detections, the regular surveillance program on the Sapodilla Cayes was discontinued. However, after a major outbreak of medfly on the mainland in 2013, surveillance was restarted. Detection data indicated that medfly population had become established on two of the five islands. As a result of these findings, weekly control measures were implemented including chemical control using GF120™, bait stations at a rate of 50 per hectare, fruit stripping, and mechanical control. It took approximately 1.5 years for the population on the islands to be eradicated.