Two tephritid species are important pests of citrus in the Mediterranean Region. The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), is widely distributed, whereas the peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders), has only recently been recorded in Egypt. Both are multivoltine and polyphagous that can cause direct losses in fruit production and impede international trade. Descriptions, host plants, life history, effects of hosts and climatic factors, biotic mortality factors and population dynamics are discussed, along with the most important control methods of both species.
Keywords: Citriculture, Mediterranean Region, fruit flies, bio-ecology, damage, control