Alternative to the Use of Probit 9 Mortality as a Criterion for Quarantine Treatments of Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)-Infested Fruit

Abstract

Problems with the use of a probit 9 mortality rate as a criterion for quarantine disinfestation treatments for fruit flies (Diptera; Tephritidae) are discussed. We recommend that a maximum infestation level in shipped fruit be set (as an acceptable risk limit) and that this infestation level be used as the criterion for quarantined fruit. The infestation level should be set based on calculations of the probability of a mating pair surviving a shipment.