Quarantine treatment for carambolas against Anastrepha suspensa
A quarantine treatment for carambolas (Averrhoa carambola) infested with Anastrepha suspensa (EPPO A1 pest) has been developed in the US. The treatment is based on a methyl bromide fumigation at a dosage of 40 gm-3 for 2 h at a temperature of 23° C.
To test the treatment approximately 6800 carambolas infested with the fruit fly were fumigated. An estimated 104000 eggs and larvae were subjected to the fumigation of which one larvae survived fumigation but died later as a pupa.
No qualitative differences in color, taste and appearance were observed between treated and untreated carambolas 1-2 days after the fumigation.
Sources
Hallman, G.J.; King, J.R. (1992) Methyl bromide fumigation quarantine treatment for carambolas infested with Caribbean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae).
Journal of Economic Entomology 85, 1231-1234.