Papaya pests

Papaya mealy bug

• Small yellow-white insect that feeds on the sap of papaya and numerous other plants
• Feeding causes leaf chlorosis, leaf distortions and can cause early fruit fall
• While feeding, the mealy bugs produce honeydew which encourages sooty mould to develop. This reduces the marketability of fruit
• The papaya mealy bug occurs in southern and south eastern Asia, Central America, Mexico and Florida as well as some African countries
• The pest could be introduced on plants and plant material from overseas and potentially people who have recently visited an infected papaya orchard

Fact sheet

Oriental fruit fly complex

• Includes Oriental, papaya and carambola fruit flies
• Found in Asia, Papua New Guinea, the Pacific and South America
• Adults 6-8 mm long with a narrow brown band along the edge of the wings
• Abdomen has a black T-shaped mark, which is similar to a number of other endemic species
• Larval feeding can result in rotting of fruit and may cause fruit to drop

Fact sheet

Fijian fruit fly

• The Fijian fruit fly is a 6-8mm long, black-coloured fruit fly
• Causes damage to a range of fruit including papaya
• Currently in Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu and Western Samoa
• Could potentially be introduced by the importation of fruit containing fly larvae
• Once in Australia it would be capable of causing significant damage to tropical and subtropical fruit production areas

Fact sheet

Papaya fly

• The papaya fly is a yellow-brown-coloured fly that is approximately 8-12.5 mm long with a 11-13.5 mm long ovipositor that attacks papaya fruit
• Losses of up to 30% have been reported from Florida
• The papaya fly is found in tropical and subtropical areas of the Americas from the southern USA to Venezuela
• Could potentially enter Australia as larvae in infected fruit
• If introduced it would severely affect the Australian papaya industry

Fact sheet

Philippine fruit fly

• Larvae attack a wide range of hosts including papaya
• Occurs in the Philippines and Palau
• Methyl eugenol traps can be used to attract male fruit fly which will help to detect the pest
• The fly can enter Australia as larva in infected fruit
• If it enters Australia it is likely to have a significant impact on the papaya industry

Fact sheet

Melon fruit fly

• The melon fruit fly is a 6-8mm long small orange-brown coloured fly with distinctive brown spots on its wings
• It affects a number of crops including melons, citrus and papaya
• The fly could enter Australia as larva in infected fruit
• Currently occurs in northern Africa, southern Asia, southeast Asia and Hawaii
• Has the potential to affect Australia’s fruit producers, including papaya growers

Fact sheet

Bacterial crown rot

• The bacteria cause the leaves of the papaya plant to yellow and die
• Stems and crown often develop discoloured, water-soaked areas
• Fruit can also be infected and become water-soaked and unsaleable
• Disease is responsible for significant losses overseas and occurs in Malaysia, the Caribbean and the Mariana islands
• Could be introduced on plant material or by visitors who have come into contact with infected plants

Fact sheet

Endemic fruit flies

The Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) (Bactrocera tryoni) and Mediterranean fruit fly (Med fly) (Ceratitis capitata) are significant threats to papaya production and accessing vital export markets. Qfly is widespread throughout Queensland and has a limited distribution through south-eastern Australia. Medfly is restricted to Western Australia. Further information can be found at www.preventfruitfly.com.au

Papaya ringspot virus

• Disease is caused by a virus that is spread by various aphids or by planting diseased plants
• Virus causes yellow patterns to develop on leaves and leaf rolling to occur
• Green ring-shaped markings develop on the skin of infected fruit and oily streaks develop on the plant’s stem. Trees may also become stunted if infected when young
• Some mites may also cause leaf yellowing but obvious rings on fruit are tell-tale signs of the virus
• Infection causes reduced fruit set and reduced vigour as well as reducing fruit quality and taste
• There is no cure for this disease
• Virus affects papaya, watermelon, pumpkins and cucurbits
• Occurs in most tropical and subtropical countries including Australia
• In Australia the virus is restricted to south east Queensland
• A quarantine area exists in the south eastern corner of Queensland extending from the border north to Lowmead (24º30’ S) and from the coast west to near Theodore (150º E). Quarantine area details