XA9951568

FAO/IAEA Int. Conf. on Area-Wide Fifth International Symposium on Fruit Flies I-I Control of Insect Pests, of Economic Importance Penang, May 28 to June 2, 1998 I - 5 June, 1998. Penang, Malaysia.

ERADICATION OF MEDFLY FROM AND JOINT PROGRAMME IN SOUTHERN C. Lobos & J. Machuca Servicio Agricolay Ganadero, Av Bulnes 140, Santiago, Chile

The Mediterranean Fruit fly was found in Chile for first time in 1963 in and Iquique . Subsequently it was detected in different localities between the First Region and the Metropolitan Region. The eradication of all of these cases was achieved with the use of insecticides except some areas in the First Region because of the proximity with infested areas of the southern Peru.

In 1980 the Agriculture and Livestock Service of Chile (SAG) established and initiated a SAG project called "Fruit Flies in Chile" to take actions wherever the occurrence of the insect was detected.

In 1987 the SIT was evaluated as an instrument for the suppression and eradication of the pest in Arica . From 1988, in a first phase, the sterile medfiies were imported. A second phase was initiated in 1993 when, with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) support, the Center for the Production of Sterile Insects was inaugurated in the Lluta Valley of the I Region.

Also an important agreement for medfly eradication in the Northern part of Chile was signed with Peru in 1990, with the participation of the Interamerican Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture. The agreement is financed by the Government of Chile through an annual contribution of c.a. US$ 500,000 plus the necessary sterile flies (20 millions/week) produced in the Chilean plant and released in Southern of Peru.

In May of 1995 the last wild fly was detected in Arica. Then; after the estimated time of three medfly life cycles without new captures, in November of 1995 all Chile was declared a Medfly Free Country.

Presently the Chile-Peru agreement continues with the participation of both IICA and IAEA. Result in the Tacna valley (Southern of Peru) are promising to obtain eradication in that zone in the near future.

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