Mediterranean fly, known for its high destructive power is detected in Colima

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To prevent the Mediterranean fly from leaving the port of Manzanillo, Colima and spreading throughout the national territory, technicians from the Directorate of Plant Health, carry out actions in the areas where specimens of this non-native pest have been detected in our country, this insect carries one of the highest destructive powers for horticulture.

On April 6, a specimen of the Mediterranean fly was detected in the urban area of ​​the port of Manzanillo.

“The detection of this plague was immediately published in the Official Gazette of the Federation as a National Emergency. Right now, the fly was spotted in the Manzanillo area, and in the area attached to Armería, which is where we have installed the capture traps ”, said Maritza Juárez Duran, director of the National Fruit Flies Program of SENASICA.

17 adult Mediterranean flies have been collected

At the moment 618 traps and 1,634 bait stations are installed, 197 fruit samples have been collected and dissected and 17 adult Mediterranean flies have been captured.

“The specimens were caught using different very specific traps with sexual and food attractants, sampling is being carried out to determine the state of development of this plague”, explained Maritza Juárez Duran, director of the National Fruit Flies Program of SENASICA.

Elimination of the favorite fruits of the Mediterranean fly

Part of the eradication strategy is the elimination of the favorite fruits of the Mediterranean fly in Colima, such as the almond and mango fruits, among others.

“The fruits are collected in a radius of 565 meters, in this case we’re talking about almond, guava, plum, and mango”, said Pedro Morales Calderón, Supervisor of the MOSCAMED program.

The fruit that is removed is placed in bags, registered, and buried with lime in a grave located in the town of San Felipe, municipality of Armería, where this pest has also been found.

"An area there of approximately 2,600, 2,700 hectares of mango is being protected in Manzanillo and Armería, plus one hundred hectares of papaya, which could also be affected about 200 hectares in total", highlighted Juan José Larios Moreno, state representative of Agricultural and Aquaculture Health and Safety in the state of Colima.

With these actions to contain the Mediterranean fly, around 1.9 million hectares of the main fruit and vegetable crops that the pest can affect are protected nationwide, with a value of more than 189 billion pesos, according to figures from the Service Agrifood and Fisheries Information Center.

Source: Noticieros Televisa

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