Passion fruit flower fly

Protearomya spp.

1. Identification

• Common name: Passion-flower fly
• Scientific name: Protearomya spp.
• Order: Diptera
• Family: Tephritidae

2. Pest description

• Small adults, with colouring varying between brown and yellowish.
• Wings with discreet patterns, typical of Tephritidae.
• White, legless larvae that develop inside the flowers.
• Pupae formed in the soil or inside dry floral structures.
• Eggs laid in flower buds or open flowers.

3. Main hosts

• Passion fruit.
• Other Passiflora species may be affected.
• Marked preference for flowers in pre-opening or recently opened.

4. Symptoms and damage

• Perforations and necrosis in the flower buds.
• Premature flower drop.
• Significant reduction in fruit set.
• Deformed flowers or flowers with internal darkening.
• Major economic losses in passion fruit orchards.

5. Biological cycle

• Several generations per year in tropical and subtropical climates.
• Adults active during most of the year.
• Egg-laying in flower buds or open flowers.
• Larvae develop rapidly inside the flowers.
• Pupation in the soil or in floral remains.
• Cycle favoured by high temperatures and high availability of flowers.

6. Monitoring

• Direct observation of flowers and flower buds.
• Sampling of flowers for the detection of larvae.
• Yellow chromotropic traps for the detection of adults.
• Recording of periods of greater flowering.
• Continuous monitoring in tropical orchards.

7. Management measures

• Cultural: collection and destruction of fallen flowers; removal of floral remains after harvest; vegetation management to reduce shelter sites; synchronisation of flowering when possible.
• Biological: conservation of natural parasitoids; application of entomopathogens to the soil; promotion of natural enemies in the orchard.
• Integrated protection: continuous monitoring; targeted treatments when thresholds are reached; use of mass-trapping traps; judicious application of authorised insecticides; appropriate orchard management to reduce sources of infestation.

Bibliographic references

• EPPO Global Database – Protearomya spp..
• CABI Invasive Species Compendium – Tephritidae associated with Passiflora.
• Zucchi, R. A. (2000). Fruit flies in South American horticulture.
• Souza, M. T. et al. (2018). Pragas do maracujazeiro.