National Institute for Environmental Studies Invasive Species of Japan Japanese | English
  1. Invasive Species of Japan >
  2. Insects Alert List >
  3. Ceratitis capitata

Ceratitis capitata

Basic information
Scientific name Ceratitis capitata (No picture)
Common names Mediterranean fruit fly, Medfly
Higher taxon Tephritidae, Diptera
Natural range Mediterranean coastal region.
Habitat Parasite on various plants.
Invasion information
Range in Japan Not established in Japan Range in Japan
Origin Unintroduced to Japan.
Date
Route Unknown.
Impact Potentially: Damages on various plants and agricultural crops such as citrus, grape, peach, gourd, etc.
Native organism(s) affected: Citrus, grape, peach, gourd, etc.
Regulation in Japan This species is designated as Quarantine Pest. In addition, import of various fresh fruits from the regions with this species is prohibited (the Plant Protection Law).
Introduced range in other countries Botswana, Australia, Europe (Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Portugal), Bermuda, Latin America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela).
In USA (California and Florida) and New Zealand, this species had been established but eradicated.
Reference Notes
  • CABI (2012) Invasive Species Compendium (Beta) (Accessed on 2012-4-19) http://www.cabi.org/isc/
  • Cunningham et al. (1980) Eradication of medfly by sterile-male release. Citrograph. January, 63-69.
  • Dowell et al. (1998) Mediterranean fruit fly preventative release program in southern California. in: Tan Fifth International Symposium on Fruit Flies of Economic Importance, Penang, Malaysia, 1-5 June, 1998.
  • Ishida (1983) Japan’s plant quarantine action against the Mediterranean fruit fly outbreak in California. Plant Protection. 37(8), 348-355 (in Jpn)
  • ISSG. Global Invasive Species Database (GISD) (Accessed on 2012-4-19) http://www.issg.org/database/welcome/.
  • Pests and Disease Image Library (PaDIL) (Accessed on 2012-4-19) http://www.padil.gov.au/.
  • Plant Protection Station (2011) Quarantine Pest List (The Annexed Table 1 of the amended Enforcement of Ordinance of the Plant Protection Law) (Accessed on 2012-4-19) http://www.pps.go.jp/english/law/list1.html.
  • Plant Protection Station (2012) List of the Import Prohibited Plants (The Annexed Table 2 of the amended Enforcement of Ordinance of the Plant Protection Law) (Accessed on 2012-4-19) http://www.pps.go.jp/english/law/list2.html.
  • Sekiguchi & Ichinohe (1982) Occurrence of the Mediterranean furuite-fly in California, USA, and an outline of its control programme. Plant Protection. 36(4), 151-154 (in Jpn)
  • Umeya et al. (1981) An infestation of the Mediterranean fruit fly in California. Plant Protection. 35(7), 310-315 (in Jpn)