Dispersal of Irradiated Queensland Fruit-Flies, Dacus-Tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera, Tephritidae), in Southeastern Australia

Abstract

Mark-release-recapture studies with laboratory-reared irradiated Dacus tryoni (Froggatt) were undertaken in summer in south-eastern Australia. These showed that flies can disperse up to 94 km, almost four times the furthest distance recorded previously for this species. Most recaptures beyond 6 km were east of the point of release. Several distant traps each caught more than one fly, indicating that the flies moved together over long distances. This suggests that mating could occur and that new infestations could result from the long-distance migration of adults.