The oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) is a highly destructive pest of fruit crops. It has a wide host range including nearly 500 fruits and vegetables, but is most commonly found attacking avocado, mango and papaya. Females live 1-3 months and can produce 1,500 eggs in her lifetime. She may lay up to 20 eggs in a single fruit. As the larvae develop, they cause severe feeding damage and rotting of the fruit, which is typical of most fruit fly pests.

Adult oriental fruit flies are predominantly black, or a mixture of black and yellow. The scutellum (the posterior end of the thorax) is characteristically yellow.

For more information on oriental fruit flies, check out this Featured Creature article by Weems et al. (1999).

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