Atherigona orientalis (Schiner) is commonly referred to as the pepper fruit fly or tomato fruit fly. Despite its common names, it is not a true fruit fly in the family Tephritidae, but rather a member of the Muscidae, the same family to which the common house fly belongs. The pepper fruit fly is found in most tropical and subtropical areas of the world and is usually considered a secondary pest or “trash fly.” However, it can sometimes be a primary pest of certain agricultural crops, most notably plants in the family Solanaceae.

Want to know more? Visit the September 2012 Featured Creatures – Pepper fruit fly, Atherigona orientalis (Schiner) by Kenneth L. Hibbard, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry; and William A. Overholt, University of Florida.

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/Creatures/FRUIT/TROPICAL/pepper_fruit_fly.htm

Dr. Jennifer L. Gillett-Kaufman gillett@ufl.edu is the coordinator for UF-IFAS Featured Creatures. Pepper fruit fly is UF/IFAS publication number EENY-539.

Thanks to Dr. Jennifer Gillett-Kaufman for submitting this announcement to UF-IFAS Pest Alert.

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