Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are one of the most economically important groups of insects in the Afrotropical Region. They cause millions of Euros of damage to fruits and vegetables, and are a major constraint to commercial and subsistence farming in the region. The family Tephritidae includes more than 5000 species worldwide, approximately 1400 species of which develop in fleshy fruits (Norrbom et al 1999). Nearly 250 of these species are capable of achieving pest status by feeding on plants of economic importance (White and Elson-Harris 1992). The Mediterranean fruit fly, or Medfly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), is currently the most important of these pests from an invasive species perspective. Of African origin, it has spread to several other continents where it causes millions of Euros in damage. It also threatens other horticultural areas (such as California and Florida in the USA and regions in eastern Australia) resulting in very expensive detecting and monitoring programmes in these regions. Several Asian representatives of the genus Bactrocera have been reported as invasive species over de last decades in other parts of the world, causing heavy losses in the fruit industry (more).
This project deals with specimen information of fruit flies from the Afrotropical Region, with focus on the true infesting groups. It provides taxonomic information, descriptions, images, distribution maps, as well as the specimen information of holdings from all major institutions in Europe, North America and Africa for these taxa.The database is also available through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
