ABSTRACT
Thermal treatments are increasingly being explored as alternatives to methyl bromide fumigation to meet tephritid fruit fly quarantine regulations. A variety of agricultural commodities are currently treated by heat before importation into the United States: pineapple, papaya, mango, various citrus, bell pepper, eggplant, tomato, and types of squash. The effect of different types of substrate was compared using the same temperature treatment on mature third instars of the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspense. The difference in larval survival between the grapefruit and orange substrates was inexplicable. Field studies indicated that the Caribbean fruit fly and other Anastrepha species infested grapefruits more frequently than oranges. In commodity disinfestation, the efficacy of a heat treatment depends not only on temperature duration but also on the surrounding biochemical environment. Additional research should be done to identify the toxic compounds of the treated commodity.
