Abiu Pests

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Adult female Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew)

Fig. 1

Adult female Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa

Caribbean fruit fly Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) Larva(e)

Fig. 2

Caribbean fruit fly A. suspensa. Larva(e)

The endoparasitic braconid wasp, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead), parasitizing larvae of the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew)

Fig. 3

The endoparasitic braconid wasp, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata, parasitizing larvae of the Caribbean fruit fly, A. suspensa, ovipositing into fly larva in guava.

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Few insect pests attack abiu, however, as the number of trees increases, various insects will most likely be found feeding on abiu. The Caribbean fruit fly (Anastrepha suspensa) attacks abiu allowed to over ripen (golden yellow color) on the tree. This may be prevented by picking fully mature fruit before they ripen on the tree.

Please contact your local county extension agent for current control recommendations.

Caribbean Fruit Fly

Since 1965, however, a new introduction of the pest into Florida has continued to spread and it now occurs in most of southern peninsular Florida, commonly north to Citrus and Volusia Counties, with isolated records north to Jacksonville (Ibrahim, 1980). Within the first three months following the discovery of A. suspensa in Florida in 1965, more than 14,000 adults were trapped in Dade County and identified by state entomologists. It has now developed into a major fruit fly problem for citrus and several other crops in Florida. ¹

Distribution of the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), in Florida.

Fig. 4

Distribution of the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa, in Florida.

Use of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata is planned as part of a two-pronged attack on the Caribbean fruit fly involving the release of parasites and sterile Caribbean fruit flies.
These tiny wasps attack fruit fies by laying eggs in the fly larvae. When the fly is in the pupal stage, the wasp egg hatches and the larva begins feeding on the fly pupa, killing the fly before it can develop into an adult. Although this classical biological control technique is effective in reducing Caribbean fruit fly populations, it is not an eradication technique.
Another biological control method involves the release of large numbers of laboratory-reared sterile flies. This program is known as the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). Mating between the sterile lab-reared flies and fertile wild flies interrupts the native population because offsprings are not produced. ¹

Further Reading
Caribbean Fruit Fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), University of Florida^pdf
A Parasitoid Wasp, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata, University of Florida ^pdf

Bibliography

¹Weems, H. V., et al. "Caribbean Fruit Fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) (Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidae)." Entomology and Nematology Dept., UF/IFAS Extension, EENY-196 (originally published as DPI Entomology Circulars 38, 260), Original pub. Mar. 2001, Revised Mar. 2012, June 2021, and Oct. 2024, Released 21 Apr. 2025, AskIFAS, edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in350. Accessed 23 Apr. 2017, 28 July 2020, 11 Oct. 2025.

Photographs

Fig. ¹ Weston Lotz, Jeffrey. "Caribbean Fruit Fly (female)." Division of Plant Industry Archive, Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, United States, 15 May 2007, (CC BY 3.0), Wikimedia Commons,
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anastrepha_suspensa_5193019.jpg. Accessed 2 Feb. 2014.
Fig. ² "Caribbean fruit fly Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) larvae." Florida Division of Plant Industry Archive, Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 8 May 2007, Bugwood.org, (CC BY 3.0), www.insectimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5193013. Accessed 2 Feb. 2014.
Fig. ³ Lotz, Jeffrey. "The endoparasitic braconid wasp, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead), parasitizing larvae of the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew)." Division of Plant Industry, Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Entomology Entomology, Nematology and Plant Pathology, UF/IFAS Extension, AskIFAS, edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN350. Accessed 10 Apr. 2014.
Fig. ⁴ Steck, G. J., and B. D. Sutton. "Distribution of the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), in Florida." Division of Plant Industry, Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Entomology Entomology, Nematology and Plant Pathology, UF/IFAS Extension, AskIFAS, edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN353. Accessed 10 Apr. 2014.

Published 12 Apr. 2014 LR. Last update 11 Oct. 2025 LR