Economically Important Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Ghana and Their Regulatory Pest Management

Tephritid fruit flies are serious pests of Ghana’s numerous economically important fruits and vegetables. Their damages include rotting, premature ripening, and dropping of fruits, which lead to severe production losses, reduction in export volumes, trade restrictions, and other health implications...

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Main Authors: Elvis Opoku, Muhammad Haseeb, Erick J. Rodriguez, Gary J. Steck, Maria J. S. Cabral
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Insects
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/3/285
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author Elvis Opoku
Muhammad Haseeb
Erick J. Rodriguez
Gary J. Steck
Maria J. S. Cabral
author_facet Elvis Opoku
Muhammad Haseeb
Erick J. Rodriguez
Gary J. Steck
Maria J. S. Cabral
author_sort Elvis Opoku
collection DOAJ
description Tephritid fruit flies are serious pests of Ghana’s numerous economically important fruits and vegetables. Their damages include rotting, premature ripening, and dropping of fruits, which lead to severe production losses, reduction in export volumes, trade restrictions, and other health implications when infested fruits are consumed. Due to the activities of these pests, less than 10% of fruits (especially mango) and vegetables produced are exported, and more than 60% of them end up in waste yearly. With current regulatory measures, Ghana has made significant progress in managing fruit flies, especially after the European Union (EU) ban in 2015. However, the pests remain problematic in the sub-region. A more coordinated nationwide approach and investments in postharvest treatment facilities are anticipated to help reduce pest populations, increase trading volumes and incomes, increase access to other markets, including the United States, and boost Ghana’s economy. It is estimated that for every US$1 invested in managing fruit flies, the return on investment is US$93.
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spelling doaj-art-effc3303928d488e95ced744041c14d32025-08-20T02:11:14ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-03-0116328510.3390/insects16030285Economically Important Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Ghana and Their Regulatory Pest ManagementElvis Opoku0Muhammad Haseeb1Erick J. Rodriguez2Gary J. Steck3Maria J. S. Cabral4Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Accra P.O. Box M37, GhanaCenter for Biological Control, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USADivision of Plant Industry (FDACS/DPI), Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Gainesville, FL 32608, USADivision of Plant Industry (FDACS/DPI), Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Gainesville, FL 32608, USACenter for Biological Control, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USATephritid fruit flies are serious pests of Ghana’s numerous economically important fruits and vegetables. Their damages include rotting, premature ripening, and dropping of fruits, which lead to severe production losses, reduction in export volumes, trade restrictions, and other health implications when infested fruits are consumed. Due to the activities of these pests, less than 10% of fruits (especially mango) and vegetables produced are exported, and more than 60% of them end up in waste yearly. With current regulatory measures, Ghana has made significant progress in managing fruit flies, especially after the European Union (EU) ban in 2015. However, the pests remain problematic in the sub-region. A more coordinated nationwide approach and investments in postharvest treatment facilities are anticipated to help reduce pest populations, increase trading volumes and incomes, increase access to other markets, including the United States, and boost Ghana’s economy. It is estimated that for every US$1 invested in managing fruit flies, the return on investment is US$93.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/3/285agreementfruit fliesinterceptionISPMmanagementnotification
spellingShingle Elvis Opoku
Muhammad Haseeb
Erick J. Rodriguez
Gary J. Steck
Maria J. S. Cabral
Economically Important Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Ghana and Their Regulatory Pest Management
Insects
agreement
fruit flies
interception
ISPM
management
notification
title Economically Important Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Ghana and Their Regulatory Pest Management
title_full Economically Important Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Ghana and Their Regulatory Pest Management
title_fullStr Economically Important Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Ghana and Their Regulatory Pest Management
title_full_unstemmed Economically Important Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Ghana and Their Regulatory Pest Management
title_short Economically Important Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Ghana and Their Regulatory Pest Management
title_sort economically important fruit flies diptera tephritidae in ghana and their regulatory pest management
topic agreement
fruit flies
interception
ISPM
management
notification
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/3/285
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AT muhammadhaseeb economicallyimportantfruitfliesdipteratephritidaeinghanaandtheirregulatorypestmanagement
AT erickjrodriguez economicallyimportantfruitfliesdipteratephritidaeinghanaandtheirregulatorypestmanagement
AT garyjsteck economicallyimportantfruitfliesdipteratephritidaeinghanaandtheirregulatorypestmanagement
AT mariajscabral economicallyimportantfruitfliesdipteratephritidaeinghanaandtheirregulatorypestmanagement