This paper reviews the main networks of fruit fly trapping worldwide. The general result highlights the global effectiveness of large and structured fruit fly surveillance networks established according to current international standards. However, there is a considerable contrast among national approaches, depending mainly on the frequency of fruit fly detections. The cost of surveillance networks is high and frequently constitutes a limiting factor for their correct implementation according to the recommended standards. This highlights the importance of research to improve the effectiveness of trapping systems (which refers to the combination of an attractant, a dispenser and a type of trap). A cost-benefit analysis to compare the actual cost of surveillance with a no-surveillance strategy and the cost of expected damage would be a promising tool. Ideally, such analysis should take into account the complex of tephritid species already present in a given country and the estimated cost of increased damage on fruit production or increased control costs.