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This study aims to understand the long-term dynamics of the invasive fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis along an altitudinal gradient.

August 3, 2026Scientific ReportsOpen Access

Unravelling long-term temporal dynamics of the invasive fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis along an altitudinal gradient in Morogoro, Eastern Tanzania

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This study aims to understand the long-term dynamics of the invasive fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis along an altitudinal gradient.
Analyzed 279 site-month observations of male trap catches across six altitudinal sites from 526 to 1,650 m.
Collected climatic variables (temperature, rainfall, humidity) from ERA5 reanalysis between October 2004 and February 2012.
Characterized host fruit phenology for key commercial species affecting fruit fly abundance.
Abundance decreased significantly with altitude, with mean flies per trap per day dropping from 87.1 to 0.07 between lowland and highland sites.
Seasonal peaks in abundance were shorter and less predictable at higher altitudes, with months recording zero catches increasing to 55%.
Relative humidity had a significant association with fly abundance (Spearman ρ = 0.202, p = 0.0007), while temperature showed no significant relationship.

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Randomized trial reveals seasonal dynamics of Bactrocera dorsalis in East Africa, indicating climatic impacts on pest management.

Mwatawala et al. (2026) studied this question.

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