In Brazil, fruit flies have experienced a dangerous population increase in recent months. This situation has prompted the government to declare a phytosanitary emergency in the states of Amazonas, Pará, Roraima, and Amapá. If it spreads throughout the country, this might mean a potential annual loss of up to R$400 million in Brazilian fruit exports.
The fly was first identified in Brazil in Oiapoque in 1996. Since then, the government has been working with the Bactrocera carambolae Subprogram to eradicate the species or prevent its spread to other states. Due to the need for surveillance, there are 9,625 traps installed throughout Brazil to capture and monitor the species. In recent months, there has been a significant increase in captures in the cities of Terra Santa and Oriximiná, near the border of Pará with Amazonas, raising the alert and justifying the unprecedented emergency declaration, explains Graciane Castro, General Coordinator of Plant Protection at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa).
Source: datamarnews.com