Tephritid fruit flies are considered one of the world’s most notorious pests of horticultural crops, including mango (Mangefera indica L.) in Sierra Leone, causing extensive direct and indirect damage. A survey was conducted among 60 mango farmers in 7 districts in Sierra Leone between June and August, 2022, to assess their perceptions regarding fruit fly pest status and the current management options adopted for the control of this pest. Semi-structured questions designed in an open and closed-ended fashion were used for the study. The majority (83%) of the farmers were already aware of the fruit fly problem in the country with 62% perceiving it to be very severe. The majority (60%) of farmers, however, demonstrated poor knowledge of identifying fruit fly species, especially Bactrocera dorsalis, Ceratitis capitata, and Ceratitis cosyra. Farmers were more conversant about the direct damage symptoms to host fruits and the economic impact of fruit flies. A total of 32% of growers took no action to control fruit flies on their farms. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of the farmers adopted cultural control measures, like practicing prompt harvesting, collection and disposal of infested fruits, and weeding to maintain better sanitary conditions on their farms. Recommended fruit fly management strategies such as the use of botanicals and resistant varieties were either unknown or inaccessible to growers. A total of 52% applied chemicals that were not recommended for the control of fruit flies without considering their environmental and health risks. It is important to train fruit growers to improve their capabilities for fruit fly management through extension agents that are appropriate for helping them acquire basic knowledge of fruit fly pests and their management.
References
[1]
Vayssières, J., Goergen, G., Lokossou, O., Dossa, P. and Akponon, C. (2005) A Newbactroceraspecies in Benin among Mango Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Species. Fruits, 60, 371-377. https://doi.org/10.1051/fruits:2005042
[2]
Vayssières, J., Sinzogan, A., Adandonon, A., Rey, J., Dieng, E.O., Camara, K., et al. (2014) Annual Population Dynamics of Mango Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in West Africa: Socio-Economic Aspects, Host Phenology and Implications for Management. Fruits, 69, 207-222. https://doi.org/10.1051/fruits/2014011
[3]
Badii, K.B., Billah, M.K., Afreh Nuamah, K., Obeng Ofori, D. and Nyarko, G. (2015) Review of the Pest Status, Economic Impact and Management of Fruit-Infesting Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Africa. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 10, 1488-1498. https://doi.org/10.5897/ajar2014.9278
[4]
White, I. and Elson-Harris, M. (1992) Fruit Flies of Economic Significance. CABI Digital Library. https://doi.org/10.1079/9780851987903.0000
[5]
Rachid, E. and Ahmed, M. (2017) Current Status and Future Prospects of Ceratitis Capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae) Control in Morocco. Journal of Entomology, 15, 47-55. https://doi.org/10.3923/je.2018.47.55
[6]
Boulahia-Kheder, S. (2021) Review on Major Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in North Africa: Bio-Ecological Traits and Future Trends. Crop Protection, 140, Article 105416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2020.105416
[7]
Vayssières, J., Korie, S., Coulibaly, O., Van Melle, C., Temple, L. and Arinloye, D. (2009) The Mango Tree in Central and Northern Benin: Damage Caused by Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Computation of Economic Injury Level. Fruits, 64, 207-220. https://doi.org/10.1051/fruits/2009016
[8]
Barnes, B.N. and Venter, J.H. (2006) The South African Fruit Fly Action Plan: Area-wide Suppression and Exotic Species Surveillance. Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Fruit Flies of Economic Importance, Salvador, 10-15 September 2006, 271-283.
[9]
José, L., Cugala, D. and Santos, L. (2013) Assessment of Invasive Fruit Fly Fruit Infestation and Damage in Cabo Delgado Province, Northern Mozambique. Journal of African Crop Science, 21, 21-28.
[10]
Nankinga, C.M., Isabirye, B.E., Muyinza, H., Rwomushana, I., Stevenson, P.C., Mayamba, A., et al. (2014) Fruit Fly Infestation in Mango: A Threat to the Horticultural Sector in Uganda. Uganda Journal of Agricultural Science, 15, 1-14.
[11]
Lux, S.A., Copeland, R.S., White, I.M., Manrakhan, A. and Billah, M.K. (2003) A New Invasive Fruit Fly Species from the Bactrocera Dorsalis (Hendel) Group Detected in East Africa. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 23, 355-361. https://doi.org/10.1017/s174275840001242x
[12]
Ekesi, S., Lux, S.A. and Billah, M.K. (2007) Field Comparison of Food-Based Synthetic Attractants and Traps for African Tephritid Fruit Flies. In: Development of Improved Attractants and Their Integration into Fruit Fly SIT Management Programmes, International Atomic Energy Agency, 205-222.
[13]
Ekesi, S., Nderitu, P.W. and Rwomushana, I. (2006) Field Infestation, Life History and Demographic Parameters of the Fruit Flybactrocera Invadens (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Africa. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 96, 379-386. https://doi.org/10.1079/ber2006442
[14]
Ekesi, S., De Meyer, M., Mohamed, S.A., Virgilio, M. and Borgemeister, C. (2016) Taxonomy, Ecology, and Management of Native and Exotic Fruit Fly Species in Africa. Annual Review of Entomology, 61, 219-238. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-010715-023603
[15]
Boulahia-Kheder, S., Chaabane-Boujnah, H., Bouratbine, M. and Rezgui, S. (2015) IPM Based on Mass Trapping Systems: A Control Solution for Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Organic Citrus Orchard of Tunisia. Research Journal of Agricultural Environmental Management, 4, 459-469.
[16]
Vivekananthan, R., Ravi, M., Saravanakumar, D., Kumar, N., Prakasam, V. and Samiyappan, R. (2004) Microbially Induced Defense Related Proteins against Postharvest Anthracnose Infection in Mango. Crop Protection, 23, 1061-1067. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2004.03.014
[17]
de Meyer, M., Robertson, M.P., Peterson, A.T. and Mansell, M.W. (2007) Ecological Niches and Potential Geographical Distributions of Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata) and Natal Fruit Fly (Ceratitis rosa). Journal of Biogeography, 35, 270-281. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2007.01769.x
[18]
Drew, R.A.I., Tsuruta, K. and White, I.M. (2005) A New Species of Pest Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae: Dacinae) from Sri Lanka and Africa. African Entomology, 13, 149-154.
[19]
Mwatawala, M.W., Meyer, M.D., Makundi, R.H. and Maerere, A.P. (2008) An Overview of Bactrocera (Diptera: Tephritidae) Invasions and Their Speculated Dominancy over Native Fruit Fly Species in Tanzania. Journal of Entomology, 6, 18-27. https://doi.org/10.3923/je.2009.18.27
[20]
Ekesi, S., Mohamed, S.A. and de Meyer, M. (2016) Fruit Fly Research and Development in Africa—Towards a Sustainable Strategy to Improve Horticulture. Springer International Publishing.
[21]
Rwomushana, I., Ekesi, S., Gordon, I. and Ogol, C.K.P.O. (2008) Host Plants and Host Plant Preference Studies for Bactrocerainvadens (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Kenya, a New Invasive Fruit Fly Species in Africa. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 101, 331-340. https://doi.org/10.1603/0013-8746(2008)101[331:hpahpp]2.0.co;2
[22]
Ochou, G.O., Matthews, G.A. and Mumford, J.D. (1998) Farmers’ Knowledge and Perception of Cotton Insect Pest Problems in Cote d’Ivoire. International Journal of Pest Management, 44, 5-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/096708798228455
[23]
Lysandrou, M. (2009) Fruit Flies in the Mediterranean and Arab World: How Serious a Threat Are They and How Can We Minimize Their Impact. Arabian Journal of Plant Protection, 27, 236-239.
[24]
Kheder, S.B., Trabelsi, I. and Aouadi, N. (2012) From Chemicals to IPM against the Mediterranean Fruit Fly Ceratitis capitata (Diptera, Tephritidae). In: Larramendy, M.L. and Soloneski, S., Eds., Integrated Pest Management and Pest Control—Current and Future Tactics, InTech, 301-320.
[25]
Nofal, M.A. and Haggag, W.M. (2006) Integrated Management of Powdery Mildew of Mango in Egypt. Crop Protection, 25, 480-486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2005.08.003
[26]
Abdullahi, G., Sule, H., Obeng-Ofori, D., Afre-Nuamah, K. and Billah, M.K. (2012) Comparative Susceptibility of Adult African Invader Fly Bactrocerainvadens (Diptera: Tephritidae) to Some Selected Insecticides in Ghana. Journal of Agricultural Science, 4, 182-189. https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v4n8p182
[27]
Benjamin, B.K., Kelvin, B.M., Afreh-Nuamah, K. and Obeng-Ofori, D. (2012) Farmers’ Knowledge and Perceptions of Fruit Fly Pests and Their Management in Northern Ghana. Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2, 412-423.
[28]
CEDERO/ECOWAS (2018) Sustainability of the Ecowas Fruit Flies Surveillance System: Stakeholders of the Region Hold Consultations in Ouagadougou.
[29]
Sarango, V.M.G. (2009) Monitoring and Pest Control of Fruit Flies in Thailand: New Knowledge for Integrated Pest Management. SLU, Institutionen för ekologi, Box 7044, 750 07, Uppsala. https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/699/
[30]
Norrbom, A.L., Carroll, L.E., Thompson, F.C., White, I.M. and Freidberg, A. (1999) Systematic Database of Names. In: Thompson, F.C., Ed., Fruit Fly Expert Identification System and Systematic Information Database, Backhuys Pub. for the North American Dipterists’ Society, 65-251. https://repository.si.edu/handle/10088/17654
[31]
Goergen, G., Vayssières, J., Gnanvossou, D. and Tindo, M. (2011) Bactrocerainvadens (Diptera: Tephritidae), a New Invasive Fruit Fly Pest for the Afrotropical Region: Host Plant Range and Distribution in West and Central Africa. Environmental Entomology, 40, 844-854. https://doi.org/10.1603/en11017
[32]
Kwasi, W. (2008) Assessment of Fruit Fly Damage and Implications for the Dissemination of Management Practices for Mango Production in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Journal of Developments in Sustainable Agriculture, 3, 117-134.
[33]
Ekesi, S. and Billah, M.K. (2006) A Field Guide to the Management of Economically Important Tephritid Fruit Flies in Africa. ICIPE Science Press Nairobi.
[34]
Obeng-Ofori, D. (2007) Arthropod Pests of Mango Mangifera indica Anacardiaceae, In: Obeng-Ofori, D., Ed., Major Pests of Food and Selected Fruits and Industrial Crops in West Africa, City Printers Ltd, 113-118.