Distribution and Host Range of the African Fig Fly Zaprionus indianus (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Jordan

The African fig fly, Zaprionus indianus (Diptera: Drosophilidae) was recorded for the first time as a pest on date palms (var. Madjuol) in the Central Jordan Valley in June, 2012. Field trips were conducted to different orchards of fruit trees during the period from February to August, 2013 in the Jordan Valley, the high lands and the desert. Flies observed flying over decomposing or rotting fruits dropped on the ground were sampled by sweeping net. Fallen fruits were collected and incubated in the laboratory until adult flies emergence. Banana baited traps seeded with dry and active yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae were placed in several commercial fruit orchards. Our survey showed that Z. indianus was found in different ecosystems with variable abundance on many host plants in Jordan, utilizing diverse food resources. The fly was found on many fruits such as mulberry, grapes, peach, nectarine, plum, figs, date palm, sweet orange, sour orange, blackthorn, pomegranate, guava and apple. The minimum percentage of emerged adults of Z. indianus was 9.0%, which was recorded from fruits collected from Northern Jordan Valley during February, while the maximum percentage was 99.1% obtained from fig fruits collected from Southern Jordan Valley during June. The minimum percentage of adult Z. indianus in banana-baited traps was 49.7%, which was collected from peach orchard in June from Al Salt, while the maximum percentage was 93.9% on date palms in Dayr Alla in July. Our results provided basic and essential data needed for implementation of control measures against the fly population.