Lord of the fruit flies: How scientists are defending against a major agricultural pest
Phys.org
March 5, 2026
When Vasilis Rodovitis rips open his brown paper bag in a sunny persimmon orchard just outside Naousa, in Greece, I half expect groceries to spill out. Instead, a barely there gray cloud emerges. For half a week, the bag was home to some 4,000 Mediterranean fruit flies (Ceratitis capitata). The thumbnail-sized flies, which the scientists here simply call "Medfly," quickly disappear into the orchard.
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Originally published on Phys.org on 3/5/2026