Effect of plant oils on quality parameters of Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) reared on liquid larval diet

Liquid larval diets have been developed for several tephritid fruit flies including Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Frogatt) (Q‐fly). In liquid diets, wheat germ oil (WGO) is usually added to improve performance in some quality parameters of reared flies, especially flight ability. However, for some flies, other plant oils may be more readily available, cheaper or produce flies of superior performance. In the present study, four alternative types of plant oils – rice bran, canola, vegetable, and sesame – were incorporated into a fruit fly liquid larval diet to replace the currently used wheat germ oil and their efficacy on the quality parameters of reared Q‐fly was compared to diets containing wheat germ oil or no oil. The quality parameters included: total pupal yield (N), pupal recovery (%), larval duration (days), pupal weight (mg), adult emergence (%), adult fliers (%), rate of fliers (%), sex ratio (%), F₁ egg/female/day and egg hatching (%). There were significant differences among treatments in performance of Q‐fly. Vegetable oil appeared better in terms of total pupal yield, percentage of pupal recovery, percentage of adult emergence, percentage of fliers, mean egg/female/day and % F₁ egg hatch compared with other oil treatments, especially from that of WGO treated diet. The result suggests that WGO can be substituted with rice bran and vegetable oil to improve the liquid larval diet for rearing of B. tryoni, with vegetable oil being the best replacement.     

Evaluation of yeasts in gel larval diet for Queensland fruit fly,Bactrocera tryoni

Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (“Q‐fly”), is Australia’s most economically important insect pest of horticultural and commercial crops especially in the eastern regions. The sterile insect technique (SIT) has been adopted as an environmentally benign and sustainable approach for management of Q‐fly outbreaks. High‐performance larval diets are required to produce the millions of flies needed each week for SIT. Yeast products contribute amino acids (protein) to fruit fly larval diets, as well as carbohydrate, fat and micronutrients, but there can be substantial variation in the nutritional composition and suitability of yeast products for use in larval diets. Gel larval diets have recently been developed for large‐scale rearing of Q‐fly for SIT, and composition of these diets requires optimization for both performance and cost, including choice of yeast products. We assessed performance of Q‐flies reared on gel larval diets that contained debittered brewer’s yeast (Lallemand LBI2240), hydrolysed yeast (Lallemand FNILS65), inactivated brewer’s yeast (Lallemand LBI2250) and inactivated torula yeast (Lallemand 2160‐50), including blends. Q‐flies performed poorly when reared on diets containing only or mostly hydrolysed yeast in terms of pupal number, pupal weight and percentage of fliers. Performance was also poor on diets containing high proportions of torula yeast. Overall, debittered brewer’s yeast is recommended as the best option for Q‐fly gel larval diet, as it is cheap, readily available, and produces flies with good performance in quality control assays. Inactivated brewer’s yeast produced flies of comparable quality with only a modest increase in cost and would also serve as an effective alternative.     

Effect of conditions in sealed plastic bags on eclosion of mass‐reared Queensland fruit fly,Bactrocera tryoni

The sterile insect technique has been used for more than 50 years to control a range of insects around the world. Sterile insect technique is rapidly becoming a major component of many area‐wide fruit fly management programmes. Irradiation of immature life stages induces sterility in adults, which are then distributed over large areas to mate with wild flies, resulting in no viable offspring. However, irradiation in normal air results in declining adult quality. To optimize the quality of sterile adult flies, several techniques are available to lower the levels of oxygen in fruit fly tissues prior to irradiation. The simplest method is to seal pupae in plastic bags and allow the oxygen consumption of pupae to minimize oxygen in both the air and pupal tissue. Some fruit fly species have rapid decreases in eclosion as a result of low oxygen atmospheres. We tested the tolerance of Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae), to low oxygen for the first time. In the first two experiments, unirradiated B. tryoni pupae were tested for different periods in sealed plastic bags at 17, 21, and 26 °C. Optimum eclosion occurred at 21 °C with the lowest eclosion at 26 °C. In general, mean full eclosion declined at ca. 0.1% eclosion per hour sealed in plastic bags during the first 96 h for all temperatures. In the third and fourth experiments at 17 °C, there was a decline in average eclosion for irradiated and unirradiated pupae of about 13.4% after they were sealed in plastic bags for 192 h. In general, B. tryoni eclosion declined at 0.1% per hour inside sealed plastic bags for periods up to 192 h at 17 °C. Queensland fruit flies can tolerate long periods of conditions found inside sealed plastic bags and current practices for sterile B. tryoni release programmes will result in minimum decrease in eclosion. The possible evolution of tolerance of these conditions is discussed.     

Patterns of resource distribution among conspecific larvae in two fruit fly species: Anastrepha fraterculus and Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae)

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Effects of radiation on the fertility of the Ethiopian fruit fly,Dacus ciliatus

The Ethiopian fruit fly, Dacus ciliatus (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a significant pest of cucurbit crops in Asia and Africa and is currently controlled with insecticides. The sterilizing effect of gamma radiation on D. ciliatus adults was investigated to assess the suitability of sterile insect technique (SIT) for use as an alternative, non‐chemical strategy for the control of this pest. Late pupae (48 h before emergence) were irradiated with 60, 80, 100, 120, and 140 Gy of gamma rays emitted by a ⁶⁰Co source. Following emergence, the biological characteristics of the experimental cohorts (including all possible male‐female combinations of irradiated and untreated flies) were recorded. No significant negative effects of irradiation on pupal eclosion or the ability of newly emerged flies to fly were observed. Samples of eggs at reproductive fly‐ages (12‐, 15‐, and 17‐day‐old pairs) were collected and their hatch rates were assessed. At 60 Gy, females were completely sterilized, whereas complete sterilization of the males was observed only at 140 Gy (a small amount of fertility persisted even at 120 Gy). In addition to the above experiments, three fruit infestation trials were conducted with zucchini [Cucurbita pepo L. (Cucurbitaceae)] as the plant host and the pupae produced in those trials were collected and recorded. We observed significant (ca. 10%) infestation following treatment with up to 120 Gy and zero progeny only at 140 Gy, mirroring the egg‐hatch results. Our findings support the feasibility of SIT for the control of D. ciliatus.     

Effect of exposure time on mass‐rearing production of the olive fruit fly parasitoid,Psyttalia lounsburyi (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Classical biological control programmes rely on mass production of high‐quality beneficial insects for subsequent releases into the field. Psyttalia lounsburyi (Silvestri) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a koinobiont larval–pupal endoparasitoid of tephritid flies that is being reared to support a classical biological control programme for olive fruit fly in California. The mass‐rearing system for a P. lounsburyi colony, initiated with insects originally collected in Kenya, was evaluated with the goal of increasing production, while at the same time reducing time requirements for rearing in a quarantine facility. We tested the effect of exposure time of a factitious host Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), on parasitization, adult production, superparasitism, and sex ratio of P. lounsburyi and survival of the host. Parasitization rates were highest (31%) at 3‐ and 4‐hr exposure times, while adult production (i.e., emergence of wasp progeny) was highest (16%) at the 2‐hr exposure time. Superparasitism over the course of the study was 1.5% and did not appear to be a factor affecting parasitoid production. The sex ratio of wasp progeny was male‐biased and did not vary significantly over different exposure times. The rate of stings on host larvae increased with exposure time and was consistent with decreases in pupal eclosion from larvae and emergence rate of adult flies. When compared to current rearing procedures, the 2‐hr exposure time resulted in an overall 2.8‐fold increase in P. lounsburyi production when standardized for time.     

γ‐Octalactone,an effective oviposition stimulant of Bactrocera tryoni

Insects commonly rely on olfactory, gustatory and visual cues when deciding where to lay eggs. The olfactory cues that stimulate oviposition in the Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae), are not well understood. Here, we show that two known oviposition stimulants of the Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae)—γ‐octalactone and benzothiazole—strongly elicit aggregation and oviposition in B. tryoni. Two other known oviposition stimulants of B. dorsalis—ethyl tiglate and 1‐octen‐3‐ol—elicit aggregation but not oviposition. Highlighting species overlap, but also differences, in oviposition stimulants, these findings have practical application for mass‐rearing in which vast numbers of flies are reared for sterile insect technique programs and may also have practical application in the development of pest management and monitoring tools.     

Activity patterns of Queensland fruit flies (Bactrocera tryoni) are affected by both mass‐rearing and sterilization

Mass‐reared sterile tephritid flies released in sterile insect technique (SIT) programmes exhibit behaviour, physiology and longevity that often differ from their wild counterparts. In the present study, video recordings of flies in laboratory cages are used to determine whether the sequential processes of mass‐rearing and sterilization (using gamma radiation) that are integral to SIT affect general activity patterns of male and female Queensland fruit flies Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae) (‘Q‐flies'). Compared with wild flies, mass‐reared flies exhibit a marked reduction in overall activity, and further reduction is found after sterilization. In terms of the frequency of activities, both fertile and sterile mass‐reared Q‐flies fly less often and exhibit more bouts of inactivity and grooming than wild Q‐flies. In addition, in terms of the duration of activities, fertile and sterile mass‐reared Q‐flies spend less time flying and more time walking, grooming and being inactive than wild Q‐flies. Although fertile and sterile mass‐reared flies are similar in other regards, sterile mass‐reared flies spend more time being inactive than fertile mass‐reared flies. These findings raise new questions about how changes in behaviour and activity levels may influence the performance of mass‐reared sterile Q‐flies in the field, as well as the physiological and metabolic processes that are involved. The frequency and duration of inactivity could provide a simple but powerful and biologically relevant test for quality in mass‐rearing and SIT programs.     

Behavioral analysis of learning and memory in Anastrepha fraterculus

We evaluate the influence of prior exposure to artificial substrate for oviposition on learning and memory in the fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Some females were previously exposed to artificial fruits made of water, agar, and blackberry [Rubus spec. (Rosaceae)] or guava [Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae)] pulp for 48 and 72 h. We also studied adult flies exposed for 72 h to essential oil of lemongrass [Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf, Poaceae] and adult flies from larvae exposed to the oil. Control females were naive with respect to these experimental substrates. Prior experience with blackberry‐based artificial fruits resulted in an increase in the number of punctures and deposited eggs by A. fraterculus, and memory lasted for up to 72 h. On the other hand, fly behavior was independent of exposure to guava‐based substrate. Prior exposure of 1‐ or 15‐day‐old females to artificial substrate with lemongrass oil modified innate substrate selection behavior. The scent of lemongrass oil during the larval stage modified innate oviposition responses of adult A. fraterculus. The study shows that A. fraterculus females are able to learn and retain information through chemical stimuli released by both host (blackberry and guava) and non‐host (lemongrass) species, and they can use olfactory memory obtained during the larval stage to select oviposition sites.     

The sterile insect technique and the Mediterranean fruit fly: assessing the utility of aromatherapy in large field enclosures

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is widely used in integrated programs against tephritid fruit flies, particularly the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae). Unfortunately, the mass‐rearing procedures inherent to the SIT often lead to a reduction in the male mating competitiveness. One potential solution involves the prerelease exposure of males to particular attractants. In particular, male exposure to ginger root oil [Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae); hereafter GRO], has been shown to increase mating success dramatically in field cage trials. To evaluate more rigorously the effectiveness of GRO exposure, we here describe two projects that compared levels of egg sterility or pupal yield, respectively, following the release of wild flies and either GRO‐exposed (treated) sterile males or GRO‐deprived (control) sterile males in large field enclosures. In both projects, sterile males from a genetic sexing strain were exposed as adults to GRO for 24 h while held in large storage boxes. In Hawaii, we dissected eggs from fruits to determine the percentage of egg hatch at four overflooding ratios, ranging from 5 : 1 to 60 : 1 (sterile : wild males), and found that, at all four ratios, the proportion of unhatched (sterile) eggs was significantly greater in enclosures containing GRO‐exposed males than control males. In Guatemala, we allowed larvae to develop in fruits and counted the number of pupae produced. At the only overflooding ratio tested (25 : 1), pupal yield was approximately 25% lower for enclosures containing GRO‐exposed males than control males, although this difference was not statistically significant. An explanation for the differing outcomes is proposed, and the implications of these findings for the SIT are discussed.     

Factors affecting the dispersal of large‐scale releases of the Queensland fruit fly,Bactrocera tryoni

This study investigated two factors potentially affecting the spatial distribution of Queensland fruit fly Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) after release from a single point. First, the effect of age at release was investigated using a single cohort of 205 000 males from a mass‐rearing strain used for sterile insect releases. Approximately half were released as immature males and the remainder as sexually mature males (1 week later). Males were collected over 3 weeks from a grid of 135 traps, each containing a pheromone/insecticide bait, positioned between 4 and 500 m from the release point. Variation in the distribution of fly density around the release point was assessed by regressing trapped fly counts against distance. Unexpectedly, no significant differences were found in the spatial distribution of the flies. Second, the effect of inbreeding on spatial distribution was investigated using replicated simultaneous releases of two strains of B. tryoni. One strain was the existing (inbred) mass‐rearing strain that has been selected for high productivity in a mass‐rearing facility. The second strain was deliberately outbred but also selected for high productivity. Almost 100 000 males of each strain were released over the two experiments. Regression of trappings against distance differed significantly between strains in only one of five releases, but in all cases the outbred strain had a greater dispersal distance. As our trapping grid was not regular but contained gaps of up to 100 m, a small preliminary experiment investigated whether flies move faster along tree rows or across open fields. At distances up to 100 m, we found no detectable difference in fly distributions. These results are primarily relevant to the large‐scale point releases carried out as part of an existing B. tryoni sterile insect programme and are discussed in that context.     

Effects of field cage colour and supplementary shade on environmental conditions and mating behaviour of Queensland fruit flies,Bactrocera tryoni

The mating performance field cage test is a required periodic quality‐control assessment for factory‐reared fruit flies used for the sterile insect technique. The FAO/IAEA/USDA guidelines for assessing fly quality state that if during tests a large proportion of flies call and mate on cage walls, away from host trees, then environmental conditions within the cage need to be adjusted and tests repeated. Here we test effects of cage design, specifically mesh colour (green, white) and addition of supplementary shade, on the mating behaviour of Queensland fruit fly (Q‐fly), Bactrocera tryoni Froggatt (Diptera: Tephritidae). Observations were made over a 4‐h period at dusk when these flies mate. Changes in environmental conditions in each cage over the dusk period varied with cage design. We recorded the highest proportion of matings taking place on trees as opposed to cage walls (>90%) in the unshaded white cage, the shaded white and un‐shaded green cages being intermediate (ca. 70%), and the shaded green cage had the least (ca. 40%). The effects of field cage colour and supplementary shade on mating behaviour are discussed. We recommend that Q‐fly field cage tests should be conducted in cages with a light coloured mesh, and that supplementary shading should only be applied if there is a need to adjust temperature and light within the cage.     

Response of two parasitoid species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae,Figitidae) to tephritid host and host food substrate cues

The Neotropical‐native figitid Aganaspis pelleranoi (Brèthes) and the Asian braconid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) are two parasitoids of Tephritidae fruit flies with long and recent, respectively, evolutionary histories in the Neotropics. Both species experienced a recent range of overlap. In Argentina, A. pelleranoi is a potential species in biological control programs against the pestiferous tephritid species, Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), whereas D. longicaudata is already used in open‐field releases against Medfly in central‐western Argentina. To characterize the host‐foraging strategies of A. pelleranoi and D. longicaudata, olfactometer experiments were conducted comparing responses to C. capitata and A. fraterculus larvae, in two kinds of food substrate: fruit and artificial larval medium. To control the possible influence of host larvae used for parasitoid rearing on olfactory response, two strains of both parasitoid species, reared on both tephrtid species, were studied. Volatiles directly emanating either from A. fraterculus or C. capitata larvae may be detected by both A. pelleranoi and D. longicaudata, although chemical stimuli originating from the combination of host larvae and the habitat of the host were preferred. However, olfactory cues associated with host larvae probably play a relevant role in host searching behaviour of A. pelleranoi, whereas for D. longicaudata, the host‐habitat olfactory stimuli would be highly essential in short‐range host location. The strain of the parasitoids did not affect host search ability on the two tephritid species evaluated. These evidences are relevant for mass production of both parasitoids and their impact following open‐field augmentative releases.     

Saprophagous insect larvae,Drosophila melanogaster,profit from increased species richness in beneficial microbes

Female fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster, lay their eggs on decaying plant material. Foraging fly larvae strongly depend on the availability of dietary microbes, such as yeasts, to reach the adult stage. In contrast, strong interference competition with filamentous fungi can cause high mortality among Drosophila larvae. Given that many insects are known for employing beneficial microbes to combat antagonistic ones, we hypothesized that fly larvae engaged in competition with the noxious mould Aspergillus nidulans benefit from the presence of dietary yeast species, especially when they are associated with increasingly species rich yeast communities (ranging from one to six yeast species per community). On a nutrient‐limited fruit substrate infested with A. nidulans, both larval survival and development time were positively affected by more diverse yeast communities. On a mould‐free fruit substrate, merely larval development but not survival was found to be affected by increasing species richness of dietary yeasts. Not only yeast diversity had an effect on D. melanogaster life‐history traits, but also the identity of the yeast combinations. These findings demonstrate the importance of the structure and diversity of microbial communities in mutualistic animal–microbe interactions.     

Seasonal variation of the capture and field distribution of sterile Anastrepha ludens in Tamaulipas,Mexico

Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is one of the most important citrus pest in Mexico. The sterile insect technique (SIT) is used against pest populations of fruit flies for suppression, eradication, containment and prevention to reduce damages in fruit‐growing areas. In this study, we analyzed the seasonal variation of captures and field distribution of sterile A. ludens released in different seasons of the year in north‐eastern Mexico. Chilled releases were conducted by air at constant densities per ha on a citrus area for a period of 32 weeks that included the coldest and warmest seasons that is winter, spring and summer. Multilure traps baited with torula yeast pellets were used to capture sterile flies. Fly capture data were compared over the three seasons and correlated with climate. The lowest number of captures of the sterile insect occurred in the summer and the highest in winter and spring. High and low temperatures were negatively correlated with fly captures. Field distribution was also negatively correlated with high temperatures in summer, but no relationships were observed in winter and spring. No relationships were observed between rainfall with capture and field distribution of sterile flies. These results indicate that summer is a season involving agro‐ecological and environmental constraints for the capture and field distribution of sterile flies. This study may be useful for enhancing release strategies and optimizing economic resources in north‐eastern Mexico. Further research on the behaviour of sterile flies under stressful environments is suggested.     

X-ray doses to safely release the parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) reared on Anastrepha fraterculus larvae (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Diachasmimorpha longicaudata is a koinobiont larval parasitoid that is currently used to control fruit flies of the genera Anastrepha, Ceratitis and Bactrocera. In the rearing process, a fraction of the host larvae that are exposed to parasitoids escape from parasitism and develop into viable and fertile flies. This creates the need to eliminate emerging flies before the parasitoids are shipped for release, increasing costs due to additional handling steps. Exposure of fly eggs or larvae to gamma-irradiation before they are parasitised has been used to reproductively sterilise hosts, or even inhibit their emergence. Our aim was to determine whether X-ray radiation applied to Anastrepha fraterculus third instar larvae before they are exposed to parasitoids, inhibits fly emergence in non-parasitised larvae without affecting the performance of the parasitoids that emerge from parasitised larvae. Three X-ray doses: 6250.2 R, 8333.6 R and 10417 R (equivalent to 60, 80 and 100 Gy, respectively) and one γ-ray dose (100 Gy) were tested. Fly emergence decreased with increasing doses of radiation, showing null values for the higher X-ray dose and the dose of 100 Gy. Irradiation showed either no impact or a positive effect on parasitism rate and fecundity. Sex rate was biased towards females in almost every dose. We conclude that the two types of radiation evaluated here were equally effective in suppressing fly emergence with no detrimental effects on the biological quality of the produced parasitoids. X-rays offer an alternative method of irradiation than the conventional radiation source, i.e. γ-rays. These results represent a significant improvement in the development of a biological control programme against A. fraterculus.     

Oviposition behaviour and larval development of Anastrepha fraterculus from Argentina in citrus

Citrus peel physicochemical attributes are considered the main components conferring partial or even total resistance to fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) infestation. Fruit fly females adapt their ovipositional strategies to overcome such resistance. Here, we explored the effects of citrus species (Rutaceae) on the ovipositional behaviour of the South American fruit fly, Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann), and on its immature development. Particularly, we investigated the effects of (1) citrus species on oviposition behaviour and immature development, (2) citrus species on oviposition preference and on the location of the eggs at different depth in the citrus peel, and (3) harvest season and post‐harvest storage time on oviposition behaviour and immature development in lemon. Citrus species influenced ovipositional behaviour and affected survival of immature stages. Females laid eggs in lemon [Citrus limon (L.) Burm.], orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck], and grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macfadyen). In orange and lemon, larvae were found dead close to the oviposition areas, suggesting chemically mediated resistance mechanisms. Under choice conditions, females preferred grapefruit over lemon and bigger clutches were found in the layers where embryonic development is favoured. Unsuitability of lemon as a medium to complete development was neither affected by harvest season nor by storage time of the fruit after harvest. The physical and chemical characteristics of the peel were distinctive to each citrus species and may have affected the specific levels of resistance of these citrus species to infestation by A. fraterculus.     

Acceptability of Drosophila suzukii as prey for common predators occurring in cherries and berries

The invasive cherry vinegar fly, Drosophila suzukii, has been identified in Europe as a destructive fruit pest since its arrival in 2008. In the present laboratory study, three predatory insects (Orius majusculus, Chrysoperla carnea, and Forficula auricularia) naturally occurring on fruit crops in Europe were investigated for their ability to attack and feed on D. suzukii within and outside fruits. The predators were provided with various D. suzukii life stages (eggs, larvae, pupae or adults) exposed or within infested cherries. The anthocorid bug O. majusculus fed on eggs and larvae, but was not able to attack pupae. Larvae of the lacewing C. carnea preyed upon D. suzukii eggs, larvae and pupae and also captured adult flies. The European earwig F. auricularia was the most voracious predator of these three tested species. Although the earwigs were not able to catch adult flies, they readily preyed upon every other developmental stage. Adult O. majusculus or third instar larvae of C. carnea significantly reduced the offspring of D. suzukii from infested cherries, when these contained the egg stage of the pest. None of the predators were able to attack early larval stages inside the cherries. But pupae that protruded from the fruit epicarp or that had pupated outside the fruit were accessible to lacewing larvae and earwigs and significantly reduced by them. Orius bugs, lacewing larvae and earwigs were able, under laboratory conditions, to capture and prey upon various life stages of the invasive pest, if not completely concealed inside the fruit. Our findings suggest that these generalist predators may have some control capacity on infested fruit in cultivated fruit crops and also in non‐crop habitats.     

Fruit fly liquid larval diet technology transfer and update

Since October 2006, the US Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service (USDA–ARS) has been implementing a fruit fly liquid larval diet technology transfer, which has proceeded according to the following steps: (1) recruitment of interested groups through request; (2) establishment of the Material Transfer Agreement with agricultural research service; (3) fruit fly liquid larval diet starter kit sent to the requestor for preliminary evaluation; (4) problem‐solving through email or onsite demonstration; (5) assessment on feedback from the participants to decide whether to continue the project. Up to date, the project has involved 35 participants from 29 countries and 26 species of fruit flies. Fourteen participants have concluded their evaluation of the process, and 11 of these 14, have deemed it to be successful. One participant has decided to implement the project on a larger scale. The 14 participants were, Argentina (Ceratitis capitata and Anastrepha fraterculus), Bangladesh (Bactrocera cucurbitae, C. capitata, and Bactrocera dorsalis), China (Fujia province) (B. dorsalis), Italy (C. capitata), Fiji (Bactrocera passiflorae), Kenya (Bactrocera invadens, Ceratitis cosyra), Mauritius (Bactrocera zonata and B. cucurbitae), Mexico (Anastrepha species), Philippines (Bactrocera philippinese), Thailand (Bactrocera correcta), Austria (C. capitata, Vienna 8 and A. fraterculus), Israel (Dacus ciliatus and C. capitata), South Africa (C. capitata, Vienna 8) and Australia (C. capitata). The Stellenbosch medfly mass‐rearing facility in South Africa and the CDFA in Hawaii were two mass‐scale rearing facilities that allowed us to demonstrate onsite rearing in a larger scale. Demonstrations were performed in CDFA in 2007, and in Stellenbosch, South Africa in 2008; both were found to be successful. The Stellenbosch medfly mass‐rearing facility in South Africa decided to adopt the technology and is currently evaluating the quality control of the flies that were reared as larvae on a liquid diet.