Use of toxic bait to manage the south american fruit fly in apple orchards in Southern Brazil

Ruben Machota Junior,Mari Inês Carissimi Boff,Rafael Borges,Marcos Botton,Cristiano João Arioli,Lígia Caroline Bortoli

doi:10.1590/0100-29452021769

Abstract

Abstract Anastrepha fraterculus the South American fruit fly, is an important insect pest in apple orchards of southern Brazil, especially in small farms, where it often causes total crop loss. Experiments were conducted to evaluate, during four crop seasons (2009/2010, 2010/2011, 2012/2013, and 2013/2014) in organic and conventional apple orchards in southern Brazil, the toxic bait formulation ANAMED™ (oils and waxes 49.0% + M7 attractant 24.2% + spinosad insecticide 0.1%) for its capacity to reduce the South American fruit fly population. ANAMED applications started after apples with an average diameter of 20 mm had been thinned, and they were made every 14 days until harvest. ANAMED was sprayed on non-crop vegetation growing on the edges of the orchards at a rate of 1.0 kg.ha-1. Adult fruit flies were monitored weekly using McPhail traps baited with Torula™ yeast. Injured fruits were evaluated seven days before harvest. ANAMED reduced the adult population of trapped fruit flies captured in all crop seasons and the injured fruit, except for the first year of evaluation (2009/2010). In conclusion, the sequential use of ANAMED toxic bait over time significantly reduced adult populations of A. fraterculus and the percentage of fruits injured by this pest.

Highlights

The South American fruit fly, Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is one of the main pests in apple orchards in southern Brazil, especially orchards established on small farms, where adults and larvae of the species often cause total crop loss (RIBEIRO, 2010; SANTOS et al, 2017; STUPP et al, 2021)
When mixed with the insecticide spinosad (0.1% a.i.), this study found that ANAMED did not have an attractive effect on the fruit fly parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
This work reports the effect of applying ANAMED toxic baits for control of the South American fruit fly, A. fraterculus, in organic and conventional apple orchards of southern Brazil during four crop seasons

Summary

Introduction

The South American fruit fly, Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is one of the main pests in apple orchards in southern Brazil, especially orchards established on small farms, where adults and larvae of the species often cause total crop loss (RIBEIRO, 2010; SANTOS et al, 2017; STUPP et al, 2021). One alternative to reduce the use of these cover sprays is the application of toxic baits combining fruit fly attractants, such as protein or sugarcane molasses, with organophosphate insecticides and water These baits are placed on the edge of production areas to form a protective barrier between the orchard crop and the surrounding forest, typically the source for A. fraterculus infestations (HARTER et al, 2015; NUNES et al, 2020). While this application technique is relatively inexpensive and simple to complete in the field, several studies have shown that these toxic baits are harmful to beneficial insects, such as pollinators, predators, and parasitoids, even when applied only along orchard borders. This work reports the effect of applying ANAMED toxic baits for control of the South American fruit fly, A. fraterculus, in organic and conventional apple orchards of southern Brazil during four crop seasons

Material and Methods

Results and Discussion

Conclusions