Field Tests of Three Alternative Insecticides with Protein Bait for the Development of an Insecticide Rotation Program to Control Melon Flies, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

Simple SummaryMelon flies in Hawaii have developed high levels of resistance to a widely used insecticidal bait containing the active ingredient spinosad. Since farmers relied heavily on this product and have few alternatives, we tested three other insectides mixed with a bait spray called Nu-Lure. The three products (Agri-Mek SC, Mustang Maxx, and Malathion 5EC) were all found to be effective in either decreasing melon fly numbers or suppressing the growth of the population in the field. When used one-by-one in rotation for two weeks per product at one-week intervals on a commercial zucchini farm, melon fly populations were dramatically reduced and the yield of zucchinis harvested was substantially increased.High levels of resistance to the spinosad-based insecticidal protein bait GF-120 have been detected in some populations of melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae), in Hawaii in 2017. To provide cucurbit farmers in Hawaii with alternative insecticides, we field-tested the effectiveness of Agri-Mek SC (a.i., abamectin), Mustang Maxx (a.i., zeta-cypermethrin), and Malathion 5EC (a.i., malathion), added to a protein bait spray (Nu-Lure Insect Bait). The insecticide and protein bait combinations were applied to the roosting plants of Z. cucurbitae around the perimeter of the cucurbit fields at one-week intervals. When individually tested, all three insecticides in combination with protein bait significantly reduced or suppressed the numbers of female flies caught in torula yeast traps. A two-week rotation of weekly applications of the three insecticides and GF-120 significantly reduced Z. cucurbitae numbers on a commercial zucchini farm on Maui. The percentage of marketable fruits harvested increased from 51% to 98% after implementing the insecticide rotation. Our findings will be used to provide cucurbit farmers with additional products to control Z. cucurbitae. The future focus will be on educating cucurbit farmers to use the insecticide rotation strategy to prevent or delay resistance development.