Mango fruit flies are among the most destructive pests affecting tropical fruit production. Belonging primarily to the Tephritidae family, these flies infest ripening fruits such as mangoes, guavas, and citrus. Their ability to lay eggs directly inside fruit makes them especially problematic, as damage often goes unnoticed until the fruit begins to rot internally.
Identification
Adult mango fruit flies are small, typically yellowish to brown, with patterned wings. They resemble small house flies but are more slender and active. The larvae, or maggots, are white and legless, feeding inside fruit pulp.
Life Cycle
Females puncture the fruit skin using an ovipositor and deposit eggs just beneath the surface. Once hatched, larvae feed on the fruit flesh, causing internal breakdown. After feeding, larvae exit the fruit and pupate in the soil. Multiple generations can occur annually in warm climates.
Damage and Impact
Infested fruit often appears normal externally but becomes soft, discolored, and rotten inside. This leads to significant crop loss and affects export potential due to quarantine restrictions. Even low infestation levels can result in economic rejection of entire shipments.
Prevention and Control
Control includes sanitation (removal of fallen fruit), bait traps, and biological control agents such as parasitoid wasps. In commercial settings, protein bait sprays and sterile insect techniques (SIT) are used. Netting and bagging fruit can also provide physical protection.