Betel nut, fruit fly host

November 2004. Palau asked about the status of betel nut as a fruit fly host, in particular the stage of maturity vulnerable to infestation.

In South-east Asia, betel nut (no ripeness stage given) is listed as a host for Bactrocera arecae, B. correcta, B. dorsalis and B. papayae [Allwood et al. (1999) Host plant records for fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in South East Asia. The Raffles Bulletion of Zoology Supplement No. 7.]

In PNG, B. frauenfeldi is recorded as being reared in low numbers from ripe betel nut [Leblanc et al. (2001) Fruit Flies in Papua New Guinea. Pest Advisory Leaflet No. 37, Secretariat of the Pacific Community – Plant Protection Service.]

See the CABI Crop Protection Compendium for fruit fly species in betel nut recorded from other parts of the world.