Nonhost status of green lemon fruit (Citrus limon (L.) Burman f. cv. Lisbon) to Oriental fruit fly, Mediterranean fruit fly and Melon fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Hawai’i

Authors: Follett, Peter; Sun, Xiuxiu; Walse, Spencer

Submitted to: Insects
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/17/2025
Publication Date: 4/24/2025
Citation: Follett, P.A., Sun, X.N., Walse, S.S. 2025. Nonhost status of green lemon fruit (Citrus limon (L.) Burman f. cv. Lisbon) to Oriental fruit fly, Mediterranean fruit fly and Melon fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Hawai’i. Insects 2025. 16(5):447.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16050447

Interpretive Summary: Mahi Pono is a large diversified farm on the island of Maui that recently planted 2,100 acres of lemons (cv. Lisbon). This is the first time that this crop has been planted commercially in Hawaii and has become a significant fruit crop in the state. Harvest volumes will soon exceed local demand and so export options are desirable. The research reported in this paper showed that Lisbon lemons is a non-host for Mediterranean fruit fly, Oriental fruit fly, and melon fly and potentially could be exported with negligible risk to the US mainland. This paper will be used to support an export request to regulatory authorities at USDA APHIS.

Technical Abstract: We investigated the host status of harvest-ready green lemons, Citrus limon (L.) Burm. F. cv. Lisbon (Rutaceae), to Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis [Hendel]), Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata [Wiedemann]), and melon fly (Zeugodacus cucurbitae) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Hawaii using laboratory and field studies. In forced-infestation small cage exposures (using 25 x 25 x 25-cm screened cages with 50 gravid females), punctured lemons were infested by Oriental fruit fly, Mediterranean fruit fly and melon fly, whereas undamaged lemons were not infested. Field collection and packing of approximately 58,420 mixed grade fruit (commercial export quality and off grades) and subsequent incubation to look for natural infestation resulted in no emergence of fruit flies. Forced infestation studies in the field using sleeve cages to enclose fruit with a high density of fruit flies (50 gravid females) on the tree also showed no infestation. Commercial export grade green Lisbon lemon fruit should be considered a conditional nonhost for Oriental fruit fly, Mediterranean fruit fly, and melon fly.