A 30‐year systematic review reveals success in tephritid fruit fly biological control research

Abstract

AbstractFruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are among the main pests in horticulture, impacting field crops and export markets. The biological control of fruit flies has become an important method for environmentally friendly crop production. Although biological control is an age‐old practice and the mass‐rearing of some biological agents boomed in the 1990s, efforts in fruit fly control programs still face several challenges. We conducted a systematic review to investigate publications assessing the success or failure of using natural enemies against tephritid fruit flies. Our goal was to compile and summarize information from over 30 years of research on biocontrol efforts, including groups and species of control agents and fruit flies tested, methodological approaches applied, the country where the study was performed, and the scope adopted. We also analyzed effectiveness, efficiency, and success rates in biocontrol studies published from 1990 to 2021. Our review showed 2986 records, of which 225 publications matched the criteria. The most‐studied biocontrol agents for the suppression of fruit flies were parasitoids, fungi, and nematodes. A few studies assessed bacteria, predators, and viruses. We found a total of 55 fruit fly species described as hosts of the biological agents. Natural/conservation biological control was the main scope studied; however, augmentative biological control had a higher rate of successful studies and potential success, followed by classical biological control. The effectiveness and efficiency parameters are discussed to provide support for researchers in future studies.