Suppressing Mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) with an attract-and-kill device in pome and stone fruit orchards in Western Australia. (February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rahman, Touhidur; Broughton, Sonya
• Is Part Of: Crop protection. Volume 80(2016)
• Page Start: 108
• Page End: 117
• Publication Date: 2016-02
• Subjects: Mediterranean fruit fly -- Attract-and-kill -- Bait spray -- Cover spray -- Deciduous fruits -- Alternative management; Plants, Protection of -- Periodicals; 632.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cropro.2015.11.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0261-2194

Abstract

Abstract: Attract-and-kill is a possible alternative to the conventional control of Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae) with bait or cover sprays of organophosphate insecticides. In this study, we determined if an attract-and-kill device (MagMED ® ) could be applied alone at the recommended rate (80 devices/ha), or needed to be combined with other conventional control tactics to suppress medfly in deciduous fruit orchards (apple, nectarine, peach, pear, plum). We also determined if attract-and-kill had any detrimental effects on naturally occurring beneficial insects. Based on an acceptable level of crop loss of 2–5% (the level of crop loss growers can tolerate), attract-and-kill suppressed medfly and reduced crop loss below the acceptable level in orchards with additional controls. Attract-and-kill was most effective when combined with either bait spraying, cover spraying or both. Combining attract-and-kill with cover sprays of fenthion resulted in a drop in crop loss of apples from 2.5% to 0.5%. By combining attract-and-kill with weekly bait sprays and two cover spray applications, crop loss fell from 13.7% to 4.3% in peaches, from 6.3% to 5% in nectarines and from 6.3% to 3.7% in pears. Twice weekly bait spraying was the most effective technique at suppressing medfly, providing acceptable control when applied alone, which further improved by combining with attract-and-kill. By combining attract-and-kill with twice weekly bait spraying crop loss fell from 2% to 1% in nectarines and from 4% to 2% in apples. In laboratory trials, attract-and-kill devices killed 100% of brown lacewings ( Micromus tasmaniae Walker) and 94% of transverse ladybeetles ( Coccinella transversalis Fabricius) 24 h after contact. However, orchard samples suggest that it may not pose any significant negative impact on naturally occurring beneficials such as Neuroptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Thysanoptera and Syrphidae in the field. Highlights: We compared suppression of medfly in Western Australia using attract-and-kill. Attract-and-kill device (MagMED ® ) suppressed medfly and reduced crop loss. The device was most effective when combined with either bait sprays or cover sprays or both. MagMED ® had no detrimental effects on naturally occurring beneficials in the field.