Wooden Spheres Research Articles

Sticky Spheres for Estimating Apple Maggot Adult Abundance2

Red wooden spheres, about 8 cm in diameter, coated with Stikem®, and suspended from apple tree branches, proved to be the most effective, durable, and easily maintained devices yet reported for estimating seasonal trends in the abundance of Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) adults. They captured significantly more flies than similar-size Stikem-coated red Winesap apples or Tree Tangle foot®. coated red wooden spheres. They were equally attractive to both sexes. Results of full-season trapping with the spheres are shown. Also, the potential of the spheres for direct control of the flies in home orchards is demonstrated.