THE EASTERN CHERRY FRUIT FLY Rhagoletis cingulata Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae), A NEW QUARANTINE PEST IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Abstract

The eastern cherry fruit fly (Rhagoletis cingulata Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae), originates from North America and appeared in Europe in the eighties. Species R. cingulata is a quarantine pest for Bosnia and Herzegovina and it is currently on List I, Part A, Section I, of the Rulebook on the list of harmful organisms. Major cultivated host plants of R. cingulata in Europe are sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) and sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.). The larvae of this species damage the internal tissues of fruit, making the infested fruit unsuitable for consumption and sale. A survey of eastern cherry fruit fly was carried out from the growing season of 2015 until 2022 at seven sampling sites in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton. Fluorescent yellow Csalomon® PALz and Rebell® amarillo sticky traps with synthetic feeding attractant (Rhagoletis spp. lure) were used for monitoring of the fly presence. The five flies of R. cingulata were caught in mid September 2022 in a sour cherry orchard at site Rodoč (municipality of Mostar). At the end of September 2022, the presence of the pest was confirmed at two more locations: Krehin Gradac and Blizanci (municipality of Čitluk). In both locations two flies were caught. Identification of the caught eastern cherry fruit flies was based on morphological characteristics.