Efficacy of New Commercial Traps and the Lure Ceratrap® AgainstAnastrepha obliqua(Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

Traps, lures, and trap/lure combinations were tested against the West Indian fruit fly, Anastrepha obliqua Macquart (Diptera: Tephritidae). The study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of possible trap/lure substitutes for the traditional McPhail glass trap baited with hydrolyzed protein, which is the trap/lure combination approved for monitoring this pest in Mexico. CeraTrap®, an enzymatically hydrolyzed protein, caught as many or more A. obliqua flies as McPhail traps baited with the chemically hydrolyzed protein, Captor®, or with the dry lure, Biolure. When fly densities were high, the average capture was 3 times greater for CeraTrap than for the other lures. Sex ratios were generally female-biased and similar among all lures tested. The CeraTrap lure was not replaced during the course of the experiment and good attraction and preservation of captured specimens were observed after one month of use. CeraTrap attracted more lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) than other lures. When commercial traps baited with liquid lures were evaluated under cage conditions, traps with lateral holes, such as Maxitrap and Tephri trap, captured more flies than traps with open bottom access. New commercial traps baited with CeraTrap were significantly more efficient than McPhail traps baited with hydrolyzed protein in hog plum (Spondias mombin L.; Sapindales: Anacardiaceae) but similar in mango (Mangifera indica L.; Sapindales: Anacardiaceae). We conclude that the CeraTrap lure is an efficient lure when used in combination with other inexpensive simple traps for monitoring this pest, including during periods of low population density.