Comparison of local fruit flies attractant with imported attractants (Methyl Eugenol & Cue Lure) in guava, peach and bitter gourd orchards in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Abstract

Studies were carried out for comparison of local fruit fly attractant with imported attractants, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during 2010 and 2011. The trials were conducted in three different localities in different orchards i.e Swat (Peach orchards), Charsada (Bitter gourd) and Kohat (Guava orchards). The experiment was consisted of different attractants i.e. Methyl Eugenol (M.E), Cue Lure (C.L) and protein based product locally developed (PPr-Product) for efficient management of Tephritid species in the field in modified McPhill traps. The trials were laid out in randomized complete block design replicated three times. Findings showed that significant variation was recorded for the captured of fruit flies among different attractants and observational dates in guava, peach and bitter gourd orchards. Methyl eugenol trapped more fruit flies as compared PPr-Product and C.L trap in Guava and Peach orchards whereas higher number of fruit flies was captured by PPr-Product as compared to both C.L and M.E traps in bitter gourd orchards. Higher capture of B. zonata and B. dorsalis in guava and peach orchards was recorded by M.E whereas C.L attracted more B. cucuribitae as compared to M.E traps for Peach, Guava and Bitter gourd orchards. More numbers of B. zonata and B. dorsalis captured by PPr-Product in Bitter gourd. The highest trapped fruit flies in Peach orchards were recorded in mid September. For Bitter gourd orchards, the fruit fly capture increased from March to 1 st September and the highest peak of its species were in September. For Guava orchards, the fruit fly trapped population and its species increased till 1 st July and then decreased thereafter. The PPr-Product traps were found more effective against all three types of female adults flies whereas M.E traps captured more male adults of B. Zonata and B. dorsalis while C.L captured more male adults of B. cucurbitae in Peach, Bitter gourd and Guava orchards. The highest capture of female adults of the three species was obtained by PPr-Product in Guava and Peach orchards.