A noteworthy step on a vast continent: New expansion records of the guava fruit fly, Bactrocera correcta (Bezzi, 1916) (Diptera: Tephritidae), in mainland China

Abstract

Bactrocera correcta (Bezzi, 1916), commonly known as the guava fruit fly, is of concern as an invasive pest in tropical and subtropical countries. It was first recorded in China in 1982 in Yuanjiang, in southern Yunnan Province. We monitored the spread of B. correcta in the field during 2017 and 2018, and found that it had moved about 300 kilometers eastward from its known range in 2011 in Yunnan and has now entered the neighboring Guangxi Province. A species distribution model used to predict the potential distribution of B. correcta in China revealed that southern China provides the most suitable habitat for B. correcta, and that further eastward expansion threatens large areas of southeastern China. Results from this study suggest that the rapid eastward migration of B. correcta is related to improved highway and high-speed railway systems in China that transport fruits and vegetables to eastern markets. This paper also discusses methods to slow the expansion of B. correcta in China.