Factors affecting the efficacy of trapping system to the peach fruit fly (PFF) males, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

This study was conducted in Arab-Elmadabegh region located at the Northern West part of Assiut city at the border with the Western Desert. Four types of traps; Bottle trap, Glass McPhail trap, Plastic McPhail trap, and Abdel-Kawi trap baited with different doses of methyl eugenol (ME) were used. Obtained results indicated that Abdel-Kawi trap charged with 0.5 ml ME, it was the most effective trapping system. ME seemed to be with highly attracting effect, but most of the attracted males were found on the outside surface of the trap and on the branches surround the trap. Under these conditions, the females/males ration became 1:171. Thus, the believing tactic that fruit flies populations will decline due to the lack of males in the population available to females for mating seemed to be an erroneous believing. Results proved that PFF males had the highest activity at the dawn period between 5 and 7am. We strongly recommend using the trapping system consists of Abdel-Kawi trap charged with 0.5 ml ME only at dawn period (The first appearance of light in the morning followed by sunrise).