ABSTRACT
The equitable climate of countries in Southeast Asia and the surrounding region enables the cultivation of a diverse range of tropical and temperate fruits. Fruits are also an important component of the diet of the people in this region. This chapter examines the fruit fly problem and the control methods and strategies in current use. The oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis and the melon fly have long been recognized as among the world’s most damaging tephritids and consequently are of major quarantine importance. The increasing growth and organization of horticultural industries in tropical Asia is evident and its continued success is largely dependant on sound fruit fly control measures. Suppression of fruit fly populations in individual orchards using insecticide cover sprays or protein bait sprays is an important strategy in enabling fruit production in many tropical Asian countries. The rapid expansion and economic importance of horticultural industries in the Southeast Asian region is dependent on sound fruit fly control programs.
