It is present in most provinces of Mainland PNG, but not yet in the Island Provinces. It has been eradicated from Queensland by implementing an eradication programme using male annihilation and protein bait spraying, that cost AUD 35 million. There are presently not enough data available to establish a comprehensive host list for Papua New Guinea, but it has been occasionally bred from carambola, cashew, papaya, pomelo, mango and guava. No infestations of coffee berries have been observed or reported so far in PNG, even though B. papayae is commonly trapped in the Highlands. A very destructive polyphagous pest.
Females can lay eggs in green papayas and citrus and young bananas.
Female B. papayae has an exceptionally long ovipositor, allowing it to penetrate past the sap layer of green fruits such as papaya. This species is kept in laboratory colonies, reared on papaya-based diet, in Papua New Guinea. A very damaging pest. It will readily attack most species of edible fruits and fleshy vegetables. No infestations on coffee berries have been observed so far in Papua New Guinea.