The European cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletiscerasi (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a new invasive insect to North America. Its first confirmation in North America was in an urban park in Mississauga, Ontario in June 2016. The likely mode of entry was in imported fresh cherries or other host plant material. This pest occurs throughout most of continental Europe and central and western Asia, and is the most economically important pest of sweet cherries in Europe. It exclusively attacks the fruit of host plants.
European cherry fruit fly has not yet been detected in the U.S., although it has been intercepted more than 100 times at U.S. ports of entry (58 interceptions since 2000), with all interceptions occurring on Prunus spp. fruit found in passenger baggage.
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