Eradication versus control of Mediterranean fruit fly in Western Australia

• Published in: Agricultural and forest entomology Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 173 - 180
• Main Authors: Cook, David C, Fraser, Rob W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.05.2015
• Subjects: Benefit cost analysis; biosecurity; Ceratitis capitata; Cost sharing; disinfestation; Entomology; eradication; fruit flies; fruit fly; horticulture; industry; Insecticides; Mediterranean fruit fly; Pest control; pest management; public health; sterile insect technique; trapping; Western Australia
• ISSN: 1461-9555; 1461-9563
• DOI: 10.1111/afe.12093

The primary chemicals used by Western Australia's horticultural industries with respect to field control and post‐harvest disinfestation procedures for the Mediterranean fruit fly are soon to be withdrawn from use because of public health concerns. When this occurs, the necessary switch to alternative control methods such as bait sprays and intensive fruit fly trapping will involve additional producer costs. The present study demonstrates that these costs are likely to exceed the costs of eradication using the sterile insect technique. Given this result, eradication cost sharing arrangements between government and industry are discussed that could produce mutual benefits in the long term.