ECONOMIC-EVALUATION OF 3 ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR CONTROL OF THE MEDITERRANEAN FRUIT-FLY (DIPTERA, TEPHRITIDAE) IN ISRAEL, PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES, AND JORDAN

The Mediterranean fruit ny, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), is a major pest of fruit crops in the Mediterranean Basin countries. If no contr ol measures are applied in Israel, Palestinian Territories, and Jordan against this pest, the annual fruit losses are estimated to be about U.S. $365 million, which is more than half the total revenue produced by fruits considered to be Mediterranean fruit fly hosts in these coun tries. Under the current control programs, the direct damage (yield lo ss and control costs) and indirect damage (environmental impact and ma rket loss) amount to U.S. $192 million per year. This amount could inc rease each year if the current control programs are kept. The aim of t his study was to evaluate, on a regional basis, the economic returns o f 3 improved alternative Mediterranean fruit fly control methods using a 9-yr time frame. The control alternatives include population suppre ssion using bait sprays, population suppression using massive release of sterile male flies, and population eradication also using massive r eleases of sterile male flies. For each option, an action plan was pre pared which includes intensity, frequency and timing of sampling (trap ping and fruit gathering), control (bait sprays and sterile male relea ses), and postcontrol (quarantine and emergency capacity) techniques. For the economic evaluation costs and benefits at net present value ar e computed for each control option to estimate the economic indices. R esults indicate that the 3 area-wide control options are technically a nd economically feasible and all are better than the current control p rograms. For each option, the economic returns on a medium and long te rm are discussed, along with the environmental impact. Over the 9-yr t ime frame, the greatest economic return is from the sterile male suppr ession option. Over a much longer time frame, the greatest return is f or the sterile male eradication option.