First record of Melanagromyza obtusa in Guadeloupe
Melanagromyza obtusa (Diptera: Agromyzidae) is a pest of Cajanus cajan and to a lesser of other Fabaceae (e.g. Flemingia macrophylla, Phaseolus radiatus). M. obtusa is a pod borer. All immature stages occur within the pod. Larvae mine under the epidermis of the seeds which are then filled with frass. Adult flies emerge from their puparia inside the pod (but outside the seed) and escape through a thin epidermal window. M. obtusa is a pest of Asian origin, but since the early 2000s, it has been reported as spreading within the Caribbean region.
Dr Etienne attracted the attention of the EPPO Secretariat to the first finding of M. obtusa in Guadeloupe (Etienne et al., 2004). M. obtusa was first discovered on the island of Marie-Galante (belonging to Guadeloupe) on C. cajan in 2002 and again in 2003. Studies were then done on the island of Guadeloupe during the growing season of C. cajan, but failed to detect the pest. M. obtusa was in fact found in 2003 after the growing season on a few pods that had remained after harvest. All specimens were found at Lamentin, Ravine-Chaude. So far, no serious damage is observed in Guadeloupe and Marie-Galante. As C. cajan is widely grown in the Caribbean and M. obtusa is a serious pest of C. cajan in its area of origin, it is felt that M. obtusa may have the potential to spread rapidly and cause problems within the Caribbean Basin.
Geographical distribution
Asia: Bangladesh, China (Taiwan), India, Indonesia (Java), Japan, Malaysia (Peninsular), Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam.
Oceania: Australia (Queensland), Papua New Guinea.
Central America and Caribbean: Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe (including Marie-Galante in 2002/2003), Haiti, Puerto Rico.
North America: USA (Florida, first found in 2003).
It is considered that earlier records of this pest in Africa are probably misidentifications of M. chalcosoma.
Sources
Etienne J, Martinez M, Boëcasse G (2004) Première signalisation avérée du ravageur Melanagromyza obtusa (Malloch) dans la région néotropicale (Dipt., Agromyzidae). Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France, 109(1), 105-106.
INTERNET
CABI Crop Protection Compendium. Datasheet on Melanagromyza obtusa.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service (US)
Pest Alert. Pigeonpea pod fly Melanagromyza obtusa (Malloch) (Agromyzidae). http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/ento/pigpea.html
NAPPO Pest Alert. Melanagromyza obtusa. New detection in South Florida