EFFICIENCY OF METHYL EUGENOL DILUTED WITH CERTAIN OILS ON FIELD ATTRACTION OF THE PEACH FRUIT FLY, BACTROCERA ZONATA

Abstract

tpeach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) is considered as one of the most significant insects that attack commercial fruits in Egypt. The fibered blocks treated with methyl eugenol and Sumithion (4 : 1) is one of the most applicable methods that used through Male Annihilation Technique to control this insect. This study was carried out in order to minimize the economic cost by decreasing the consumed quantities of methyl eugenol in control procedures application through two successive trails. The 1st trail aimed to evaluate different doses of methyl eugenol in comparison with the standard dose in fiber blocks. The mean no. of attracted males of tested treatments (8, 6, 4 and 2 cm3) varied significantly and averaged 13.46, 18.55, 8.46 and 4.99 flies / week, respectively, at Fayom governorate. At Dakhlia governorate, the mean no. of attracted males of the tested treatments were 55.67, 34.60, 25.20 and 13.51 flies / week, respectively. The 2nd trail was contributed to evaluate the field efficiency of methyl eugenol diluted by certain oils on attraction of B. zonata males. The tested treatments were; (A) Methyl eugenol 98% , (B) Methyl eugenol 75 % + corn oil 25%, (C)Methyl eugenol 50% + corn oil 50%, (D) Methyl eugenol 75 % + sunflower oil 25% , (E) Methyl eugenol 50 % + sunflower oil 50%, (F) Methyl eugenol 75 % + paraffin oil 25%, and (G) Methyl eugenol 50 % + paraffin oil 50%. At Fayom governorate, the treatments G,F and B were highly significant in capturing averaging 35.85, 24.86 and 24.78 flies / week, respectively. At Menofia governorate, the general means were highly insignificant varied whereas thetreatments A, G and C were the highest insignificantly attracting with the respective means 17.83, 16.58 and 12.55 flies/ week. The obtained results in both governorates revealed the possibility of paraffin oil utilization as diluent for methyl eugenol on fiber block treatments without negative effect on attraction of B. zonata, and hence minimizing the economic costs of peach fruit fly control applications