Abstract
The mass trapping technique based on the use of the female-targeted attractant lure Tri-pack® as an alternative to malathion bait-spraying (control treatment) was tested in two citrus orchards in the North of Tunisia against the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata during 2006 and 2007. Results of mass trapping trials in 2006 and 2007 indicated that adult males Medfly captures showed reductions respect to control of 37.62% and 40.2% respectively in mandarin orange variety (Citrus reticulata) orchard compared to 36.48% and 47.29% in Washington navel orange variety (Citrus sinensis) field. Fruit damage assessment showed significant differences between the mass trapping with Tripack® and malathion bait-spraying techniques in the reduction of the percentage of fruit punctures. The percentage of punctured fruit at harvest was significantly different between the treated and the control field in 2006 and in 2007 in the mandarin orange orchard. Nevertheless, in the Washington navel orange orchard, the percentage of punctured fruit at harvest was significantly different between the treated and the control field only in 2006. Thus, results obtained from this study showed that the mass trapping technique based on the use of the female-targeted lure Tri-pack® could be involved as an appropriate strategy for the control of the Medfly and is as effective as malathion bait spraying treatment without leaving pesticide residues on fruit.
Highlights
The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedeman), is one of the most devastating pests of fruits and vegetables worldwide (Liquido et al, 1997; Chueca et al, 2007) and it is considered the most invasive of all members of the Tephritidae (Zucchi, 2001).In Tunisia, citrus are among the basic sector of economy
An effective female-targeted trapping system consisting of a McPhail trap baited with three food-based, synergistically acting attractants was developed (Heath et al, 1997; Katsoyannos et al, 1999a,b)
The second citrus field was located in the same area and had 6 ha of area planted with Washington navel orange variety (Citrus sinensis).Tree spacing was 6 × 6 m with a density of 256 trees ha–1 (Fig. 1b)
Summary
The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedeman), is one of the most devastating pests of fruits and vegetables worldwide (Liquido et al, 1997; Chueca et al, 2007) and it is considered the most invasive of all members of the Tephritidae (Zucchi, 2001). Research and development of effective control methods as alternative to chemical control are needed especially because of Tunisian oranges are mainly exported to EU market (GIFruits, 2006) These methods could include the use of traps baited with the female-targeted and male-targeted lures (Papadopoulos et al, 2001; Broughton and Francis de Lima, 2002; Heath et al, 2004; Tóth et al, 2004). An effective female-targeted trapping system consisting of a McPhail trap baited with three food-based, synergistically acting attractants (ammonium acetate AA, putrescine PT and trimethylamine TMA) was developed (Heath et al, 1997; Katsoyannos et al, 1999a,b). The present work aims to assess the mass trapping technique based on the use of female food-attractant lure Tri-pack® as alternative to chemical control with malathion bait spraying in mandarin and Washington navel orange orchards
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