Are there any natural predators to this fly?
I sit on my countries Board of Ag and we recently had an in depth series of meetings with overseas visitors who had been afflicted by the pink mealy bug. We did so because the commentary from various experts ranged from irreversible devastation to landscape and some crops (it can be hosted on over 400 plants also) vs. this is hardly noticed and with proper preparation becomes a non-event.
It was clear from the meeting that while the bug has potential to live on that range of plants it actually prefers a handful. It also has a number of natural predators, the most effective of which are a type of wasp that is parasitoid. Thus in time, it becomes naturally controlled as the egg laying comes part and parcel with hosting parasitoid wasps that keep the pink mealy bug in check. In stable locations, it is thus hardly noticed where parasitoids exist or are introduced.
This is a stark contrast to the shock and awe side of the story promote by some local authorities. I say all that to say, with at least some invasive plants and bugs, there are situations in their home base that keeps them in check. Weather in this case also qualifies. Worth considering.
And yes, Natural News has become known to sensationalize the facts, mixing them with hype such that the reader often had to search for and distinguish objective facts amidst unqualified opinions.
Some zones in Mexico have been declared fruit fly free. so they CAN be controlled.
I have been looking into this a lot, since this year the D.R. had a block on exports to the US. ( seems a packing house had them ).
The farmer can:
1) remove all damaged fruit from trees. ( stung ) and destroy.
2) Not allow any fruit on the ground.
3) Use traps.
That is enough to control them on the plantation side.
problems I have seen, are that some abandoned plantations or ones that do not apply these techniques. keep the infestation going. this I have witnessed here, a plantation owner may do all these things, but a neighboring farm may not, so they are in constant battle to control.
Besides beneficial insects you mentioned. I believe beneficial nematodes, bacteria and fungi would help also.
part of the fruit flies life cycle is underground. beneficial fungi bacteria and nematodes can control them at this point.
The good part of all these practices is they benefit the farmer in other ways. controlling other pests. not just fruit flies.
Bacteria
http://www.theguardian.com/science/2010/jul/08/bacteria-fruit-fly-nematode-parasiteNematodes
http://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/factsheets/nematodes.htmlOne research paper on beneficial fungi for fruit fly.
http://www.iaea.org/inis/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/42/109/42109317.pdfAgain, a grower can do all these things, but if you have someone near that does not, they will host the flies, and keep the cycle alive. all the above seems complicated but it is not.
you only need a few traps, the nematodes, bacteria, and fungi are just mixed with water, and sprayed. most of the labor is in just keeping your trees and fields clean, of fallen / rotten fruit.
