Mediterranean Fruit Fly Alert Begins in Citrus Groves of Aydın

September 10, 2026 · Tarım Pusulası

Aydın Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry called on producers to combat the Mediterranean fruit fly, which causes quality loss in citrus groves and quarantine barriers in foreign trade.

Trap Monitoring and Pest Threat

Aydın Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry announced the start of the fight against the Mediterranean fruit fly, which causes significant yield and quality losses in citrus groves. It was stated that the pest causes fruits to become wormy and lead to shedding, and causes serious disruptions in exports due to being under external quarantine. Officials reported that traps placed in orchards across the province are monitored with weekly checks, noting that in addition to population increase, the fruits have reached the infestation stage where they become sweet and juicy, and their peel color changes.

Control Methods and Application Principles

It was announced that producers can carry out chemical control through biotechnical or partial branch spraying with licensed mass traps against the pest. According to the data from the Aydın Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, chemical application should be carried out at 7-10 day intervals and meticulously continued until 10 days before harvest. Producers who prefer the biotechnical method are advised to keep the adult fly population under control throughout the season by keeping the mass traps they hang on the trees until the end of the harvest.

Biotechnical Support and Beekeeper Warning

The Provincial Directorate reminded that farmers who choose the biotechnical method in line with integrated pest management principles can benefit from the Biotechnical Control Support payments provided by the Ministry. The statement also emphasized that beekeepers in the vicinity must be informed before application to prevent bee deaths that may be caused by chemical spraying. Producers were asked to comply fully with the control calendar to avoid economic losses.

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