A review of the effects of Mediterranean fruit fly control methods on the beneficial arthropod fauna of the citrus trees

Abstract

Citriculture production nowadays constitutes about 60 million tons with the United States of America (18.2%) and Brazil (25.3%) taking the lead. The third most productive region is the Mediterranean basin with 12.9%. The Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Ceratitis capitata (Widemann) can cause losses of up to 100% in some countries therefore one can safely say that this pest is of great economic importance. Research is being undertaken on every aspect of how to provide efficient, non-polluting, safe ways to control the pest. While writing this project I have tried to combine some of the available methods of control with information as regards the beneficial fauna, which has to be protected because of it's importance.