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Oriental Fruit Fly

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The oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) is a destructive agricultural pest which

attacks more than 400 types of fruits and vegetables, including apricots, cherries,

figs, and tomatoes. It poses a serious and constant threat to U.S. agriculture due to

its wide host range and ability to spread rapidly.
The oriental fruit fly is widespread throughout much of the mainland of Southern

Asia, neighboring islands, and in Africa. It was first found in Hawaii in the mid-1940s,

and later on the U.S. mainland in California and Florida. Detections in California have

increased over the past decade as international passenger air travel has increased.

What To Look For

Appearance

Larvae (maggots) feed inside the fruit. They are legless, white to

yellowish-white, and grow to a length of 0.4 inches.

Adult oriental fruit flies are somewhat larger than a house fly. The body

color is variable but generally has bright yellow markings and a dark Tshaped marking on the abdomen. The wings are clear.

Females also have a pointed, slender, tube-like organ called an ovipositor.

They use this to deposit eggs beneath the fruit's skin. Eggs are white, very

small, and shaped like cylinders.

Damage

Fruit decays early and falls to the ground as the larvae develop and feed

on the pulp.

How To Prevent This Pest

The oriental fruit fly spreads mainly through infested fruits and vegetables. Here's

what you can do to help prevent this pest:

Fresh fruits, vegetables, or plants shouldn't be brought into or mailed to your

State or another State unless agricultural inspectors have cleared them first.

When returning from international travel, declare all agricultural products to

U.S. customs officials. Learn more on our Traveler Information page.

Know and follow all quarantine restrictions in fruit fly-infested areas.

Never remove fresh produce from your property if your area is under a fruit fly

quarantine.

Fruits and vegetables may be consumed or processed (juiced, frozen,

cooked, or ground in the garbage disposal) at the property of origin. If not

consumed or processed, double-bag fruits and vegetables in plastic bags
before throwing them away.

Cooperate with agriculture officials who may be in your area surveying for the

pest. We may ask for access to your property to place and check insectmonitoring traps.

Report Plant Pests and Diseases

Have you seen this pest or signs of pest damage? Immediately report your findings

to your State plant health director or State plant regulatory official.

If you suspect that you have an oriental fruit fly infestation, contact your local

cooperative extension service for advice. Please cooperate with local, State, and

Federal agricultural officials as they carry out their work.

Find your State plant health director

Controlling Oriental Fruit Fly

Current Status

The oriental fruit fly is established in Hawaii, and the entire State is under

quarantine for the pest. It is periodically detected in Florida and regularly detected in

California. APHIS and the California Department of Food and Agriculture establish

oriental fruit fly quarantines per the Cooperative Fruit Fly Emergency Response

Triggers & Guidelines (198.25 KB).

For the latest oriental fruit fly quarantine information, select the name of your State

in the Pest Tracker below, or view Federal Orders, SPRO Letters, and Environmental

Documents.

Pest Tracker: Find Pests by State or Region

Find out if your State has a Federal quarantine and/or State-level quarantine for any

hungry pests.

Select a State or Region ▾ See Results

APHIS' Response
APHIS rapidly responds to oriental fruit fly incursions in the United States. We follow

program guidelines (198.25 KB) that address survey, treatment, and regulatory

response and meet National Environmental Policy Act requirements and other

applicable laws and regulations.

When we detect oriental fruit fly in an area, we work with State partners using a

tiered approach. Our efforts may include surveying to delimit the extent of the

incursion, inspecting fruit and other host plants, setting and monitoring traps,

conducting public outreach, and establishing a parallel Federal-State quarantine in

the affected area.

When an oriental fruit fly outbreak occurs, we take immediate action to eradicate

the pest.

Regulatory Information

Oriental Fruit Fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, Host List (330.49 KB)

Federal Orders, SPRO Letters, and Environmental Documents

Spread the Word

Brochure: Invasive Fruit Flies Impact You / Las plagas de moscas de la fruta lo

afectan a usted (2.07 MB)

Featured Creatures: Oriental Fruit Fly (University of Florida)

Reports and Assessments

Oriental Fruit Fly Sterile Insect Technique Economic Analysis (227.5 KB) (2021)