Dynamic seasonal response of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) to fruit juice-based lures in fig orchards

SUÁREZ L; BUONOCORE BIANCHERI LJ; DÍAZ NIETO LM; SCHLISERMAN P; MURÚA AF; RULL J; LASA R; PANTANO V; OVRUSKI S

International Journal of Pest Management

Taylor & Francis

Año: 2021

Ceratitis capitata is the most serious agricultural pest in Argentinean fruit-growing regions.The use of baited traps for Medfly control is an expanding and increasingly successful integratedmanagement strategy. The high cost of traps and attractants is one of the main limitationsfor use on either a massive scale or a small-scale control. This study aimed toevaluate the advantages or disadvantages of using natural fruit juice-based lures for Medflyadult monitoring at the orchard level in an irrigated valley. Medfly capture with a standardprotein attractant was compared with peach, apple, sweet orange, fig, and grape juices. Allattractants were evaluated in 1.5-liter disposable plastic bottles that served as traps. Themost relevant finding was the interaction between attractant effectiveness and season.While the standard yeast was the most effective attractant during summer, the highestMedfly caught values recorded during both spring and autumn were achieved with trapsbaited with orange juice. The use of fruit juices as attractants and disposable bottles as trapscan decrease the impact on non-target insects and reduce management costs.