Abstract

STEYN, L.A.I. et al. First records of the fruit pest Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura, 1931) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in South Africa. AE [online]. 2025, vol.33, pp.1-4. ISSN 2224-8854.  https://doi.org/10.17159/2254-8854/2025/a22307.

Native to Southeast Asia, the fly Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), or Spotted Wing Drosophila, has become a major pest of soft-skinned fruits in several countries globally. However, its distribution in sub-Saharan Africa was limited to Kenya and some Indian Ocean Islands. In 2021, an industry-funded surveillance project was initiated to determine whether the pest was present in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. Trapping was conducted using lures developed for this species in bucket-type traps. The first D. suzukii detection was of a single male, trapped on the 25th of April 2022 in the Langkloof region in the Eastern Cape province. This research presents the first report of D. suzukii occurring within South Africa. We also present the results of ongoing surveys showing the current spread of the pest in South Africa.

Keywords : Spotted Wing Drosophila; trapping network; pest monitoring; rapid dispersal.

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