Some SA fruit industries spend more than R300 million a year to combat fruit flies. UP researcher Tania Pogue explains how her study of pest traps could revolutionise how we protect our fruit exports.
In a significant advancement for agricultural pest management, University of Pretoria (UP) researcher Tania Pogue has uncovered key insights into fruit fly behaviour that could transform how farmers monitor and control these destructive pests. Pogue’s research focuses on the eco-physiology of fruit flies, investigating how biological factors interact with environmental conditions to influence their response to commercial lures.
Her academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Entomology at UP, where she developed her passion for studying insects. During her honours degree, Pogue initiated her first research project on fruit flies, focusing on the mating behaviour of the Mediterranean and Marula fruit flies. In 2021, she embarked on an MSc in Entomology, where she investigated how fruit fly biology and weather conditions impact their attraction to commercial lures. Pogue completed her MSc with distinction in 2023 and published two academic papers during her postgraduate studies.
“My research has investigated how the biology of the fly – such as its age, sex and diet – interacts with the weather and how this interaction affects how likely the fly is to be attracted to a lure,” Pogue explains.
This research is crucial for South Africa’s fruit industry, as fruit flies pose a significant threat to production and export potential. Infested fruit cannot be sold, and pest management techniques increase production costs.
One of the study’s key findings is the temperature threshold for effective trapping.
“Fruit flies are highly unlikely to respond to a baited trap below 12°C,” Pogue explains. “Traps set up at temperatures cooler than this are more likely to underestimate the size of fruit fly populations in the area. This can lead to incorrect timing or application of management techniques, causing more crop losses and increasing production costs due to more intensive management.”
This insight is critical for accurate population monitoring and the implementation of timely control measures. Pogue conducted her research at UP’s Department of Zoology and Entomology, where she reared three fruit fly species under controlled conditions, manipulating factors such as age, sex and diet. She then carried out field experiments in specially designed cages at UP’s Future Africa Institute, where she measured how different conditions influenced fruit fly attraction to commercial lures.
The potential impact of this research on South Africa’s agricultural sector cannot be underestimated.
“This research will help improve trap capture estimates for fruit flies, making pest management techniques more accurate,” Pogue emphasises. “More efficient pest management programmes allow farmers to take a proactive approach to protect their fruit, often enabling cheaper and more sustainable methods to be used.” The economic implications are also substantial.
“Based on a recent newsletter article from the Citrus Growers Association, it costs R386 million a year in control costs to counter fruit flies in the citrus industry, and this value is likely to be much higher when taking other fruit industries into account,” Pogue says.
Her research aims to reduce these losses by enabling more precise and effective pest management strategies.
Pogue’s findings not only advance scientific understanding but also offer practical solutions for farmers and pest control professionals. By considering both environmental conditions and fruit fly biology, trap-based monitoring systems can be optimised, leading to more accurate population estimates and more effective control measures.
As South Africa continues to strengthen its position as a leading fruit exporter, research like Pogue’s is vital for maintaining and enhancing the country’s competitive edge in global markets. Her findings contribute to the development of more sustainable and cost-effective pest management practices, benefitting both producers and consumers worldwide.
