Potential suitability of North Queensland rainforest sites as habitat for the Asian papaya fruit fly, Bactrocera papayae Drew and Hancock (Diptera: Tephritidae)

• Published in: Australian journal of entomology 1998-09, Vol.37 (3), p.219-227
• Main Authors: Hadwen, WL, Small, A, Kitching, RL, Drew, Rai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bactrocera papayae; invasive species; North Queensland; papaya fruit fly; rainforest; Tephritidae
• ISSN: 1326-6756; 1440-6055
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-6055.1998.tb01575.x

This study: (i) established that the introduced papaya fruit fly, Bactrocera papayae Drew and Hancock, was not present in three widely separated rainforest sites; (ii) established, based on our knowledge of host use, the suitability of those sites as habitat for the papaya fruit fly; and (iii) raised the question of potential impacts of papaya fruit fly invasion of rainforests on the local and endemic fauna and flora. Data were collected between February and June 1996 from vegetation surveys, fruit fly trapping and records of insects reared from fruits collected in rainforest plots. The vegetation survey results indicate that habitat suitability for the papaya fruit fly is highly variable between the three sites sampled. No papaya fruit fly individuals were collected over the course of the study, either from traps or reared from collected fruits. Endemic tephritid species were, however, collected using both of these sampling methods. Based on analyses of potential host availability, the papaya fruit fly has the potential to become established in any of the three 1 ha plots surveyed. There is currently a lack of evidence to confirm or refute the presence of populations of the papaya fruit fly in rainforest areas. Highly focused monitoring strategies need to be employed to further assess the status of this species and the potential environmental and ecological impact(s), if any, that have escaped current detection. Ultimately, many native and endemic species of fauna and flora may be endangered by this species should populations become established in the rainforests of North Queensland.