The impact of the invasion of fruit flies and mealy bugs are under close monitoring in Rodrigues. This was the answer of the Commissioner of Agriculture Richard Payendee, who was replying to a question addressed to him by Nicolas Von Mally about the devastation caused by these pests in the fields. It was during the last session of the ‘Rodrigues Regional Assembly’ sitting on the 10th of August. The commissioner indicated that indeed, these bugs are are the major pests affecting fruits and vegetables production in Rodrigues. He added that the ‘Area-wide National Fruit Fly Control Program’ initiated in Mauritius in 1994 was extended to Rodrigues. This program consists mainly of bait application and male annihilation techniques. Over the last 20 years, a ‘Pest Control Unit’ had been set up at the level of the Commission for Agriculture in order to monitor and control pests affecting the sector. This unit monitors traps on 206 spots throughout the island on a weekly basis and also assists planters through eco-friendly phytosanitary products put at their disposal. And the control of fruit flies and mealy bugs is a continuous activity of great importance to the commission.
According to Richard Payendee, a survey carried out has detected the presence of six different types of fruit flies which affect fruits and vegetables in the island. These insects population were at their peaks in the months of November to February, period where most fruit trees are bearing fruits. « Several measures have been adapted by the commission to control fruit flies and mealy bugs, so as to reduce their impact and eventually eradicate them. We intend to introduce sterile male fruit flies and egg parasite. And a building is being rehabilitated at Citronelle to host the insect breeding room. These will then be released in nature in the infested regions where they will no longer be able to reproduce as they will be sterile. Some sepcies may be eradicated this way and other means of eradication will also be used », he said. He also indicated that some species have been effectively controlled and eradicated through the propagation of its natural parasite which is a ladybug called ‘Rodolia’. A natural breeding site was set up at Graviers and the parasites were then proliferated to nine infected spots which were successfully treated using this method.
