Situation of Rhagoletis cingulata in Belgium
In 2004, the presence of Rhagoletis cingulata (Diptera: Tephritidae – EPPO A2 List) was noticed for the first time in Belgium, as 3 specimens were caught on wild Prunus serotina in Brussels capital region and Wallonia (see EPPO RS 2010/128). In addition, a few observations have been made in recent years through citizen science. Since 2013, a scientific research project, Fly-ALERT, has been carried out by the research centre for fruit growing (pcfruit vzw) and the Walloon Agricultural Research Center (CRA-W). In 2013, 72 traps (moskisan-type with TA and AA bait) were placed in commercial fruit production sites, sites involved in fruit trade, non-commercial orchards, private gardens and natural areas. Traps were monitored from June until the end of October. Samples were collected every week during the growing season and stored for further analysis. The determination and subsequent confirmation was carried out between January and May 2014. On 2014-02-14, CRA-W notified the identification of 1 male (trapped between 2013-07-29 and 2013-08-05) and 1 female (trapped between 2013-07-30 and 2013-08-07) in 2 separate natural areas with wild cherry trees (Prunus avium) in the province of Namur. On 2014-05-23, pcfruit vzw notified the identification of 1 female (trapped between 2013-08-01 and 2013-08-09) in a non-commercial orchard with untreated cherry trees in the province of Liège and 1 female (trapped between 2013-08-01 and 2013-08-09) detected at the edge of a forest, close to a cherry orchard in Vlaams-Brabant. No official measures were taken. Owners of orchards situated in the immediate vicinity of these findings were alerted by the researchers and advised to carry out insecticide treatments. This survey is continuing in 2014.
The pest status of Rhagoletis cingulata in Belgium is officially declared as: Present, few occurrences, not in commercial production orchards.
Sources
Baugnée JY (2006) Contribution à la connaissance des Tephritidae de Belgique (Diptera: Brachycera). Notes faunistiques de Gembloux 59(2), 63-113.
NPPO of Belgium (2014-06).