Review of the distribution of Zeugodacus cucumis in Australia
The cucumber fruit fly, Zeugodacus cucumis (=Bactrocera cucumis – EPPO A1 List) is a native species from Australia which does not occur in other parts of the world. As adult flies are not attracted by lures that are generally used for other fruit flies (e.g. cue-lure, methyl eugenol), surveillance of Z. cucumis in the field is difficult. A review of past records of Z. cucumis in Australia has recently been published and concluded that its geographical range is predominantly coastal (coasts of New South Wales, Northern Territory, and Queensland), and that the 29°S latitude is most probably the Southern limit under which the pest is not able to establish. In Western Australia, some specimens have been occasionally detected in Kununurra (north of 29°S latitude) during a period from 1997 to 2001, but surveillance data is lacking to verify the current situation. According to the authors, detections of Z. cucumis south of 29°S latitude should be considered as incursions which have not been followed by establishment. They also concluded that Victoria and South Australia are most likely to be free from the pest.
Sources
Dominiak BC, Worsley P (2018) Review of cucumber fruit fly, Bactrocera cucumis (French) (Diptera: Tephritidae: Dacinae) in Australia: Part 1, host range, surveillance and distribution. Crop Protection 106, 79-85.