New publication: Agroecological management of cucurbit fruit flies depends on pest species and local context

We are pleased to announce the publication of our latest research article in Crop Protection.

Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are among the most destructive insect pests affecting cucurbit production in Africa. However, the effectiveness of agroecological practices in reducing fruit fly infestations remains highly variable across cropping systems and environments.

Using data from more than 3,400 fruits collected across contrasting agroecological zones in Tanzania, our study demonstrates that there is no universal solution. The effectiveness of agroecological management depends on the interaction between crop species, local environmental conditions, and the composition of the dominant tephritid pest complex.

These findings highlight the importance of developing locally adapted, evidence-based pest management strategies that consider both ecological context and species composition, rather than relying on one-size-fits-all recommendations.

This work is the result of a collaboration between the Royal Museum for Central Africa (Belgium) and Sokoine University of Agriculture (Tanzania), with support from the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO).

Article: No one-size-fits-all: Dominant pests and context shape agroecological outcomes against cucurbit fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The paper is available through Elsevier's Share Link:
https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1mIKM14ckdNQhx