African Fig Fly

Scientists at the University of Minnesota have confirmed a new invasive fruit fly in Minnesota. A single adult femaleZaprionus indianus Gupta (Diptera: Drosophilidae), more commonly known as the African Fig Fly, recently was discovered in a fermenting bait trap from late September 2013. The trap was located near Hastings and was being used for annual monitoring of spotted wing Drosophila (SWD), itself a newly invasive Drosophilid.  The new fly specimen was officially identified Allen L. Norrbom (Drosophilidae) of the Systematic Entomology Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture.

Media Releases

• AFF press release

Additional resources

• African Fig Fly site (Dr. D. Pfeiffer, Virginia Tech)
• African Fig Fly Info and US distribution (Dr. K. VanderLinde, Florida State University)

MDA's Pest Alert Hotline: 
Possible new detections should be sent to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Contact the Minnesota Department of Agriculture at 1-888-545-6684 (voicemail), or by email to: Arrest.the.Pest@state.mn.us