Asian fruit fly threatens Belgian fruit producers

The Asian fruit fly is worrying producers in Limburg. The fly lays eggs in fleshy fruit and the larvae feed off it. It is present in Belgium due to the mild winter, and the insect threatens to destroy a large part of fruit harvests.

The female fly lays eggs in fruit that is not yet ripe. ''The larvae damage the fruit before it is sold and make it unfit for consumption'' says Tim Beliën of Proefcentrum Fruitteelt (Pcfruit), a centre of expertise with a high-level research institute and information service on fruits, based in Trond. ''All soft-skinned fruit could be infected. This goes from stone fruits to soft fruits such as cherries, berries or strawberries''.

''Normally, numerous flies die when temperatures drop below zero. But this did not happen this year'' says Tim Beliën, explaining that half of some harvests in the USA and South Europe were destroyed.

Pcfruit and the FPS Public Health are researching a solution. A new research project will also be launched in collaboration with the whole fruit sector.