Eradication versus control of Mediterranean fruit fly in Western Australia

Abstract

The primary chemicals used by Western Australia's horticultural industries with respect to field control and post-harvest disinfestation procedures for the Mediter- ranean fruit fly are soon to be withdrawn from use because of public health concerns. 2 When this occurs, the necessary switch to alternative control methods such as bait sprays and intensive fruit fly trapping will involve additional producer costs. 3 The present study demonstrates that these costs are likely to exceed the costs of eradication using the sterile insect technique. 4 Given this result, eradication cost sharing arrangements between government and industry are discussed that could produce mutual benefits in the long term.