Short pest overview:

This insect is a species from the family Tephritidae of the order Diptera, is a fruit fly. It is considered to be a major pest of a number of commercial fruits, including fruits that are grown in subtropical or more temperate environments.

Geographic Distribution:

This pest has a widespread distribution, being found in Southern and Eastern Africa especially in Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Republic of South Africa, Rwanda, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Zimbabwe, and the islands of Mauritius and Reunion.

Life Cycle:

The insect develops a number of 2-12 generations per year, depending on climatic conditions. In the areas warm, the insect does not enter diapause. For submission eggs, adult females pierce peel of the fruit with the ovipositor and lay 1 to 10 eggs in one single cavity. A female can to deposit between 200-800 eggs. After 2-3 days, the larvae appear which feed on the pulp of the fruit for 5-9 to 24 days, depending on the temperature and the host plant, until they reach the age fill.