Area-wide management of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Hawaii

Abstract

Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are amongst the most economically important pests attacking tropical fruits and vegetables in Hawaii. The Hawaii Fruit Fly Area-Wide Pest Management (AWPM) Programme was initiated in 1999 to suppress fruit flies below economic thresholds while reducing the use of organophosphate insecticides. The AWPM programme developed and integrated biologically- based pest control technologies into a comprehensive management package that was economically viable, environmentally sensitive and sustainable. The technologies included: (1) field sanitation, (2) protein bait application techniques (BAT), such as sprays, (3) male annihilation techniques (MAT) using male lures, and (4) sterile fly and parasitoid releases. In a cooperative effort the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, the University of Hawaii, Hawaii State Department of Agriculture and industry partners developed environmentally friendly control technologies, secured special local needs registrations, implemented a fruit fly IPM extension educational programme and transferred novel technologies to local farmers and domestic growers. The programme demonstrated that if growers adopted IPM then fruit flies could be suppressed across large areas. The programme received seven major awards for IPM technology transfer activities. This chapter summarizes highlights of this highly successful community- based IPM programme. Although formal funding for the Hawaii AWPM program ended in 2008, transfer of AWPM components and technology continued locally, nationally and internationally, thus contributing to increasing the sustainability of agriculture.