Bactrocera

Published

7 November 2026

Described by Macquart in 1835. Primarily Indo-Pacific in distribution, with several species now established as invasive pests in Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

Tribe: Dacini | Species: ~600

1 Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel, 1912)

Common name: Oriental fruit fly
Economic importance: Major invasive pest of mango, guava, papaya, and hundreds of other hosts. Established in Africa after 2003.

1.1 Research

1.1.1 Gut Microbiota

Bactrocera dorsalis and its gut microbiota: an emerging insect model (2026)

Researchers: Qiongyi Zhou, Hongyu Zhang
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Gut microbiota are involved in adaptation of B. dorsalis to temperature and diet stressors (2026)

Researchers: Abir Hafsi, Massimiliano Virgilio
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Excess sucrose in the larval diet alters gut microbiota and reduces body size and longevity (2026)

Researchers: Xiaoyun Jia, Zihua Zhao
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BdNOX5 mediates gut microbiota homeostasis via ROS regulation (2026)

Researchers: Tian Zeng, Yi-juan Xu
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Cuticle-associated microbiota suppress fungal infection through immune and chemical defences (2026)

Researchers: Kamil Kabir, Hongyu Zhang
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Gut-microbiota reshaping by oxytetracycline residues threatens life-history traits (2026)

Researchers: Yuxin Yang, Zihua Zhao
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Bacterial-driven odorant receptor expression shifts alter olfactory behaviour in the oriental fruit fly (2026)

Researchers: Muyang He, Yonghao Lu
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1.1.2 Pest Control

Fungal colonization and candidate metabolite-mediated toxicity of Fusarium solani KMZW-1 against adult Bactrocera dorsalis (2026)

Researchers: Huiqin Li, Junfu Yu
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RNAi-mediated immune suppression enhances Serratia marcescens pathogenicity (2026)

Researchers: B. Wei, Y. Liu
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Novel defensin-like antimicrobial peptides as promising targets for control (2026)

Researchers: Bing Xie, Bin Song
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Construction of a chitosan nanoparticle-based nucleic acid pesticide system for the control of Bactrocera dorsalis (2026)

Researchers: Guijian Zhang, Changying Niu
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Improving fungal biocontrol of Bactrocera dorsalis through binary strain combinations and UV-protective humate formulations (2026)

Researchers: Baihui Hao, Zhihong Li
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Integration of insecticides with methyl eugenol-based male annihilation technique trap device enhances the management of Bactrocera dorsalis in sweet orange orchard (2026)

Researchers: Gelana Keno Beyene, Gebissa Yigezu
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Attractancy potential of terpinen-4-ol against Bactrocera dorsalis and its synergistic attractant effects evaluation (2026)

Researchers: Huan Liu, Lang Fu
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Development and field evaluation of a lure-and-infect strategy integrating attractants with Beauveria bassiana for controlling Bactrocera dorsalis (2026)

Researchers: Jingpeng Xie, Fengqin Cao
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Hollow ZIF-8-enhanced composite colorimetric sensor array for early visual and nondestructive detection of citrus fruits infested by Bactrocera dorsalis (2026)

Researchers: Chao Zeng, Dapeng Li
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MOF-enhanced colorimetric sensor array for early detection of citrus infestation by Bactrocera dorsalis (2026)

Researchers: Xin Zhang, Tao Wen
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1.1.3 Gene Drives

CRISPR/Cas9-based white pupae mutant lines in Bactrocera spp. for sterile insect technique applications (2026)

Researchers: Chrysanthi Ioannidou, Kostas Bourtzis
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CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing in the management of Bactrocera dorsalis (2026)

Researchers: (first author TBC), (last author TBC)
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Next-generation genetic biocontrol technologies for tephritid pests (2026)

Researchers: (first author TBC), (last author TBC)
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1.1.4 Ecology & Behaviour

Flight characteristics of Bactrocera dorsalis associated with long-distance migration (2026)

Researchers: Naoya Hidaka, Akira Otuka
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Temperature experienced prior to adult emergence modulates adult cold tolerance of the invasive tephritid species Bactrocera dorsalis and Bactrocera zonata (2026)

Researchers: Vasilis G. Rodovitis, Nikos T. Papadopoulos
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Cadmium exposure triggers adaptive physiological and molecular responses that undermine development in Bactrocera dorsalis (2026)

Researchers: Wei Zhao, Dan-Dan Wei
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Enhanced female preference to oviposition cues by mating-induced odorant-binding proteins in Bactrocera dorsalis (2026)

Researchers: Xiaofeng Chen, Hongbo Jiang
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Asymmetric evolution of antennal cell types underlies a derived ammonia-sensing logic for ecological adaptation in Bactrocera dorsalis (2026)

Researchers: Wei Liu, Guirong Wang
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N-(3-methylbutyl)acetamide mediates male–male courtship in Bactrocera dorsalis through behavioural threshold modulation (2026)

Researchers: Yuhua Zhang, Xin Yi
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Understanding the chemosensory and detoxification mechanisms in the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (2026)

Researchers: Saleem Jaffar, Yongyue Lu
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Resource competition between melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae and oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (2026)

Researchers: Hongai Su, Yongyue Lu
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Bactrocera dorsalis dominance and first report of three Dacus species in Uganda (2026)

Researchers: Denish Oyaro Onen, Jeninah Karungi
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Survey parameters to support detection survey design for Bactrocera dorsalis (2026)

Researchers: Daria Rzepecka, Sybren Vos
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1.1.5 Transcriptomics

METTL3/METTL14-mediated RNA m6A modification is involved in male reproductive development in Bactrocera dorsalis (2026)

Researchers: Qiuyuan Zhang, Hongyu Zhang
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1.2 Researchers

Hong-Yu Zhang

Affiliation: Huazhong Agricultural University, China
Themes: Gut microbiota, immune defence, RNAi
ResearchGate →

Zihua Zhao

Affiliation: China Agricultural University
Themes: Life-history, diet, gut microbiota composition
Google Scholar →

Massimiliano Virgilio

Affiliation: Royal Museum for Central Africa, Belgium
Themes: Phylogenetics, population genetics, microbiome adaptation
Affiliation →
Google Scholar →

Tian Zeng

Affiliation: (TBC)
Themes: Gut homeostasis, ROS regulation
ResearchGate →

Kamil Kabir

Affiliation: (TBC)
Themes: Cuticle microbiota, immune defence, fungal resistance
ORCID →

Guirong Wang

Affiliation: Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Themes: Sensory biology, olfaction, chemosensory evolution

Nikos T. Papadopoulos

Affiliation: University of Thessaly, Greece
Themes: Thermal biology, dispersal, life history

Dan-Dan Wei

Affiliation: Southwest University, China
Themes: Ecotoxicology, nucleic acid pesticides, development