**Jackfruit Fruit Flies** refers generally to several species of Tephritid fruit flies (e.g., *Bactrocera dorsalis*—Oriental Fruit Fly, which is a key pest) that attack the fruit of the **Jackfruit** tree (*Artocarpus heterophyllus*). The damage is caused by the female fly laying her eggs beneath the fruit’s surface. Upon hatching, the **maggots** feed on the pulp inside, causing the fruit to rot prematurely, rendering it completely inedible and often causing it to drop from the tree. They are a primary constraint on Jackfruit production globally.
Taxonomy and Classification
Jackfruit Fruit Flies belong to the order Diptera (true flies), family Tephritidae. They undergo complete metamorphosis (egg, larva/maggot, pupa, adult). These flies are characterized by their often colorful bodies and patterned, “picture wings.” The female possesses a hard, sharp **ovipositor** used to pierce the thick skin of the developing fruit to lay her eggs deep inside.
Physical Description
The specific species vary, but most destructive species are small, 1/4 to 3/8 inch long.
- **Adult Fly:** Usually yellowish, brown, or black, often with distinct yellow or dark markings on the body and wings.
- **Larvae (Maggots):** Creamy white, legless maggots that are found feeding exclusively on the interior pulp of the jackfruit.
- **Pupa:** Barrel-shaped, brown pupae that are found in the soil beneath the infested fruit.
- **Damage Sign (Key ID):** Small, water-soaked, pinpoint holes on the developing fruit where the female laid eggs (often difficult to see). The fruit ripens prematurely, may ooze a sticky sap, and, if cut open, will reveal **mushy, rotting pulp** and numerous maggots.
Distribution and Habitat
Jackfruit Fruit Flies are found in all tropical and subtropical regions where jackfruit is grown, particularly in South and Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and increasingly in parts of Florida and the Caribbean. Their habitat is the fruit and the soil beneath the trees. They require the interior of the fruit for larval development.
Behavior and Conflict
The conflict is total loss of the fruit harvest.
- **Host Preference:** Female flies are highly attracted to the chemical signals released by the developing fruit. The jackfruit’s large size provides an ample food source for numerous maggots.
- **Contamination:** The fruit’s interior is ruined by the feeding activity and frass of the maggots, leading to decay.
- **Life Cycle Perpetuation:** Once maggots mature, they drop to the ground and burrow into the soil to pupate, ensuring the emergence of the next generation beneath the host tree.
Management and Prevention
Control is integrated pest management (IPM), heavily reliant on sanitation and physical exclusion.
- **Remove and destroy** all infested and fallen fruit immediately, ideally by burning or deeply burying the fruit. Do not leave them in the open, as the maggots will complete development and pupate in the soil.
- **Bagging:** The most effective control for small-scale production is physically **bagging** the developing fruit (when they are small) using sturdy brown paper bags or fine mesh cloth to prevent the female from reaching the surface to lay eggs.
- Use commercial or homemade **lure traps** (often containing methyl eugenol or similar pheromones) to monitor and reduce the male population.
- Apply toxic protein-hydrolyzed **bait sprays** to the bark and non-fruit foliage to attract and kill adult flies.
Conservation and Research
Jackfruit Fruit Flies are managed as severe global agricultural pests. Research focuses on developing sterile insect technique (SIT) programs to introduce sterilized male flies into the wild, improving attractive and localized bait formulations, and establishing effective quarantine protocols to prevent their spread.