Female‐biased mass trapping vs. bait application techniques against the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Dipt., Tephritidae)

Abstract

AbstractTo develop new population control methods for the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, a study comparing bait application techniques (BAT) with a female‐biased mass trapping strategy was carried out in seven citrus orchards in Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). In the BAT treatment, fenthion, lambda‐cyhalothrin and spinosad were applied separately in three of the orchards. In the other three, the mass trapping strategy (Probodelt traps baited with Biolure©) was adopted at a density of 50 traps/ha, reinforced when necessary with the same insecticide bait application (MTR). The seventh orchard was organically farmed and only mass trapping was used for control, but with a higher trap density (80 traps/ha). For pest monitoring, 2 traps/ha baited with Biolure© (for females and males) and 2 traps/ha baited with trimedlure (for males only) per orchard were inspected weekly. The most effective treatment was the MTR (with fenthion) programme, reducing the C. capitata female population by up to 68% [an average of 3.9 females/trap/day (f/t/d) were obtained vs. 12.6 f/t/d from BAT]. However, the lowest average C. capitata population (between the MTR programmes) was obtained by mass trapping supplemented with lambda‐cyhalothrin (only 3.3 f/t/d). When only BAT was applied, applications with lambda‐cyhalothrin proved to be the most effective (7.1 f/t/d). However, MTR carried out in the organic orchard resulted in the lowest female captures (2.0 f/t/d). Very little fruit damage was recorded in the treatment orchards. In all BAT treatments, the relative number of males and females was similar; however, in the MTR treatments fewer females than males were recorded in the same orchard.