The Baluchistan Melon Fly (Myiopardalis pardalina): Biology, Ecology, and Management Strategies

The Baluchistan melon fly (Myiopardalis pardalina), a highly invasive tephritid pest, poses a critical threat to global cucurbit production, with crop losses exceeding 90% during outbreaks. This review synthesises current research on the pest’s biology, ecology, and management, focusing on its severe economic repercussions for key crops—including melon, watermelon, and cucumber—across Africa, Asia, and Europe. Characterised by a life cycle comprising eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults, M. pardalina exhibits distinctive morphological adaptations and an expanding geographic range, fa-cilitated by international trade and climate resilience. Its infestations devastate fruit yields, undermining food security and destabilising rural economies reliant on cucurbit cultivation. We evaluate diverse control strategies, spanning monitoring and quarantine methods, cultural practices, physical interventions, chemical insecticides, biological agents, and emerging genetic tools. Emphasising the urgency of integrated pest man-agement (IPM), this review advocates for the strategic integration of these approaches to optimise efficacy, sustainability, and scalability. By consolidating fragmented knowledge and pinpointing critical research gaps, this work establishes a framework for mitigating M. pardalina’s impacts, offering actionable insights to safeguard agricultural productivity and bolster resilience in vulnerable regions.