Introduction and distribution of Bactrocera musae (Tryon) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in East New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

Abstract

Bactrocera musae (Tryon), the banana fruit fly, is a pest of bananas and plantains on the Papua New Guinea mainland. In East New Britain Province (E. N. B.) trapping and host fruit surveying prior to mid 1999 indicated the absence of this fly, despite literature records to the contrary. In mid 1999, the possibility of an incursion of banana fruit fly into the Gazelle Peninsula of E. N B. was reported. Three trapping surveys were carried out from late 1999 to mid-2000 on the north-east tip of the Gazelle and confirmed the presence of well established banana fruit fly populations. In December 2000, a delimiting survey was carried out to map the then distribution of the fly. The fly was shown to be widespread over the Gazelle, with population foci around Rabaul and Kokopo. Market surveys of banana fruit and field assessments were also done to support the trapping surveys. Although banana finger infestation by banana fly was found to be well below 10 percent, these results confirm that B. musae populations are established and causing damage. Banana fly appears to be absent in West New Britain and Bougainville, but very low level populations have been detected in Manus and New Ireland. We speculate that the incursion of B. musae into ENB. may be an indirect result of relief food supplies shipped to the Gazelle following the 1994 Rabaul volcanic eruptions.