The medfly is considered to be a quarantine species of worldwide importance. Until May of this year, the Galapagos was considered to be free of this species. The means through which this insect entered the islands has not yet been determined.

The species Ceratitis spp. (MacLeay) is known for its negative effects on the agricultural economy and the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedeman) is especially important. It is originally from Africa, but is widely distributed in the Atlantic Islands, Oceania (Australia), Europe, the Indian Ocean, Central America and southern Mexico, the Middle East, the Pacific Islands, and South America.

This insect is one of the most damaging fruit pests, so it has been categorized worldwide as being of quarantine concern.

"	The first announcement of the presence of the medfly in the Galapagos happened on May 7th, 2008."

Its introduction into the Galapagos can cause serious negative effects on the agricultural economy, affecting the production, consumption, and marketing of fruit produced in the rural areas of the populated islands.

The effects on the Galapagos flora have not been accurately identified. However, research has determined that this insect is a generalist and can thrive in cactus fruits, "manzanillo", and "guayabillo", among the most obvious.

Entrance to Galapagos and the first control and eradication actions

The first announcement of the presence of the Mediterranean fruit fly in the Galapagos happened on May 7th, 2008. Their presence was reported by the Charles Darwin Foundation. They were found in the "Socavón" area (agricultural area) on San Cristóbal, a product of periodic trapping of this insect, an activity performed as part of the Monitoring, Surveillance, and Early Detection Entomological Program developed by this institution.

	» Medfly larvae in an almond San Cristóbal, Galapagos 2009

Given this fact, the Committee for Agricultural Health of the Inspection and Quarantine System for Galapagos (SESA-SICGAL) held a special meeting where it decided to declare an emergency quarantine on the island of San Cristóbal and request that the national SESA declare a phytosanitary emergency on San Cristóbal Island.

As immediate actions, the transportation of fruit from this island was stopped and control was increased on the docks and airports of the Galapagos.

In late June, despite the measures taken, there were reports of the presence of fruit flies in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island.

The procedure was the same as in the first case and strong pressure was put on the national SESA to expedite the declaration of a phytosanitary emergency in the Galapagos. This was achieved after a series of steps that led to the arrival of the senior leadership of this body on the island of Santa Cruz, where on July 30th, the National Director of the SESA issued the declaration in resolution No. 038 of that institution.

Then an aggressive campaign led by the SESA-SICGAL began which is supported by several institutions, including the Directorate of the Galapagos National Park, The Charles Darwin Foundation, the Second Military Zone of the Galapagos, the Environmental Police, and the Municipalities of the Islands of San Cristóbal and Santa Cruz through the Inter-Agency Introduced Species Management Committees (CIMEI).

Among the first actions were the contribution to human resources, the procurement of materials, fumigation equipment, food and sexual attractants, insect traps for male and female flies, and transportation.

The Directorate of the Galapagos National Park has allocated about US $ 40.000 and scheduled the amount of $ 90.000 through the month of December 2009.

In parallel, a campaign will be started for communication and environmental education for public awareness about the entrance of this invasive species.

Monitoring

	The traps are monitored once every eight days and the number of flies collected per trap is recorded. The bait is then changed and the traps are placed exactly in the same place.

In coordination with the SESA-SICGAL and the Charles Darwin Foundation, Jackson and McPhail traps have been placed in urban and rural areas of the islands of San Cristóbal and Santa Cruz. These traps contain specific baits for fruit flies. The traps have been distributed on different routes and placed in fruit trees such as orange, cherimoya, guanábana, almond, mango, lemon, etc.

The decision to conduct monitoring was made, which entailed the placement of 10 Jackson and 10 McPhail traps on the island of Santa Fe, located between the islands of Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal. Flies can infest this island because it is in the shipping lanes between the two populated islands.

Permanent monitoring is also performed on Floreana and Isabela Islands, to detect any introductions into these islands in a timely manner.

Fruit collection and soil removal

The only host fruit tree so far is the almond tree. All fruits that fall to the ground are collected and burnt, so that the larvae do not reach their adult stage. It is also necessary to perform "raking" of the soil under each tree to interfere with the reproduction process of the fly, since the larvae become flies on the ground.

Fumigation

	» Fumigation against the medfly San Cristóbal, Galapagos 2009

It has been determined that with the fumigation method using a stationary pump, an appropriate spray of the insecticide (Success GF-120) can be achieved. This is an agricultural insecticide that contains very effective bait for fruit flies which is effective by ingestion and by contact.

Success GF-120 is an attractive, latest generation bait incorporating SPINOSAD, a naturally occurring molecule, obtained from the fermentation of the actinomycete Saccharopolyspora spinosa, which has a toxicity profile of minimal risk to the environment.

This product contains all the ingredients necessary to ensure effective control of many species of fruit flies without affecting other beneficial organisms.

Results

The results of the monitoring work performed to this date allow us to conclude that the number of adult flies found is lower than that reported at the beginning of the campaign.

	» The medfly in Galapagos

Except for a few individuals on San Cristóbal in May 2008, the presence of the medfly has not been reported in the wetlands of the two affected islands.

This gives us reasonable hope that the continuing control actions can achieve the eradication of this invasive species.

The openness and cooperation shown by all member institutions of the Agricultural Health Committee of the SESA-SICGAL has made it possible to perform the actions that have been done so far. The control and eradication efforts will be needed until at least late 2009.

Monitoring should be extended indefinitely.

This program has counted on the support of:

The Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands (CDF) is an international nonprofit research organization dedicated to providing scientific research, technical assistance and information in order to ensure the success of conservation in Galapagos

The Ecuadorian Agency Agro Quality Assurance (AGROCALIDAD) and the System of Inspection and Quarantine for Galapagos work together to prevent the introduction of invasive species to the Galapagos.