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Bactrocera cucurbitae

Basic information
Scientific name Bactrocera cucurbitae

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ウリミバエ
Major synonym Dacus cucurbitae
Common names Melon fly
Higher taxon Tephritidae, Diptera, Insecta
Natural range Southeast Asia.
Habitat Parasite on cucurbitaceous plant
Invasion information
Range in Japan Eradicated by 1993 in Ryukyus. Range in Japan
Origin Unknown.
Date The first record in Japan was in 1919 at Kohamajima Is., Yaeyama Islands, southwesternmost area of Ryukyus. After, spread to wide area of Ryukyus: Miyako Islands (1929), Kumejima Is. (1970), Okinawa Islands (1972), Yoron and Okinoerabujima Is. (1973), Amami Islands (1974), and Daito Islands (1977)
Route Unknown.
Impact Actually: Damage on agriculture, especially on cucurbitaceous crops
Native organism(s) affected: Cucurbitaceous crops (bitter gourd, cucumber, pumpkin, melon, etc.), mango, tomato, ben, papaya, etc.
Regulation in Japan Designated as a Quarantine Pest. Import of living vines, leaves and fresh fruits of plants of the family Cucurbitaceae (with some exceptions), and fresh fruits of kidney bean, pigeon pea, carambola, cowpea, red pepper (capsicum), tomato, eggplant, papaya, and Hylocereus (dragon fruits) and Mangifera (mango) plants are prohibited (the Plant Protection Law).
Introduced range in other countries Several parts of Africa, Mauritius, Reunion, Papua New Guinea, Hawaii, Micronesia, etc.
Reference Notes
  • Ecol Soc Jpn (ed) (2002) Handbook of Alien Species in Japan. Chijinshokan, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Plant Protection Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries & Okinawa Pref. (1993) Eradication of Melon Fly from Japan. Plant Protection Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries & Okinawa Pref. (in Jpn with English abst)
  • Plant Protection Station (2011) Quarantine Pest List (The Annexed Table 1 of the amended Enforcement of Ordinance of the Plant Protection Law) (Accessed on 2012-3-07) 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 2012-3-07) http://www.pps.go.jp/english/law/list2.html.
  • etc.
100 of the Japan’s Worst Invasive Alien Species