Abstract
Mass trapping is an environmentally safe alternative to insecticide application for the Mediterranean fruit fly management. The selection of effective trap-attractant combinations for monitoring and mass trapping control remains challenging. The current study explored the attractiveness of trapping devices during spring (early season) and summer (late season) in field cage trials. Five trapping devices were assessed: (a) the commercially available Decis® trap, (b) Tephri trap baited with Biodelear, (c) Tephri trap baited with BioLure, (d) International Pheromone McPhail trap (IPMT) baited with Biodelear, and (e) IPMT baited with BioLure. On a test day, 100 adults (50 males and 50 females) were released in each field cage wherein traps were placed individually. Trap captures were recorded at hourly intervals from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm. Our results showed that Tephri traps baited either with BioLure or Biodelear captured the most adults under low temperatures. Efficacy of Tephri traps baited with BioLure were higher than that of other trap-attractant combinations at high temperatures. Adult captures in Decis® trap were low during both seasons. More males than females were captured at low temperatures. Both efficacy and female selectivity of trapping devices are related to prevailing temperature regimes during spring and summer under semi-field conditions.
Highlights
The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a widely distributed pest that attacks numerous fruit and vegetables crops causing high yield losses [1,2]
Five trapping devices were assessed: (a) the commercially available Decis® trap, (b) Tephri trap baited with Biodelear, (c) Tephri trap baited with BioLure, (d) International Pheromone McPhail trap (IPMT) baited with Biodelear, and (e) IPMT baited with BioLure
Our results showed that Tephri traps baited either with BioLure or Biodelear captured the most adults under low temperatures
Summary
The Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a widely distributed pest that attacks numerous fruit and vegetables crops causing high yield losses [1,2]. The need for wide application and dispersion of synthetic insecticides is dramatically reduced following the attract-and-kill approaches, especially mass trapping. Bait stations are more cost effective for controlling fruit flies in relation to mass trapping. This is mostly because there is no need for regular service as in the case of traps. Trapped fruit flies can be spotted and even counted to confirm the effectiveness of the method or to follow the population trends. When bait stations or insecticide applications are employed, efficacy can be only indirectly assessed using population monitoring traps or fruit sampling to determine infestation levels [10]. Mass trapping may provide vital information regarding pest intrusion from surrounding areas and/or the existence of hot spots inside the area of interest allowing the local adjustment of traps density for better efficacy
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