First Report of the Pepper Fruit Fly Atherigona orientalis (Schiner 1968) (Diptera: Muscidae) Infesting Commercial Pepper Crops in Greece

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The pepper fruit fly Atherigona orientalis is a cosmopolitan tropical dipteran pest. The biology of A. orientalis is primarily associated with rotting fruits and vegetables, but also with vertebrate and invertebrate carrion and manure. In recent years, A. orientalis has also been reported as a major pest of pepper fruits. Hereby, we report, for the first time in Greece and, to the best of our knowledge, in Europe, cases of pepper fruit fly damaging pepper fruits in commercial greenhouse crops (in Crete in 2022). The possible implications and concerns associated with the occurrence of this novel pest are discussed. ABSTRACT: The pepper fruit fly Atherigona orientalis (Schiner 1968) (Diptera: Muscidae) is a cosmopolitan tropical pest which has been recently recorded in several European countries. The biology of the pest has been primarily associated not only with decomposing fruits and vegetables, but even vertebrate and invertebrate carrion, dung and faeces. Relatively recently, A. orientalis has been reported as a primary pest of pepper fruits as well. In this short communication, we report, for the first time in Greece and, to the best of our knowledge, in Europe, cases of pepper fruit fly damage to pepper fruits in commercial greenhouse crops (in Crete in 2022). In this direction, possible implications and concerns regarding the occurrence of this pest in Crete are discussed.