Project Number: 5320-22430-025-20
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Sep 30, 2012
End Date: Sep 29, 2014

Objective:
Studies will be conducted on the efficacy of various foliar insecticides to Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett), Malaysian fruit fly, Bactrocera latifrons (Hendel), and oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel). We will begin with insecticides currently recommended for Spotted Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) (SWD) control (e.g., Malathion, Warrior, Dimethoate, Entrust, and Delegate). Later tests may examine insecticides recommended for Asian Citrus Psyllid control (e.g., Lorsban Advanced, Sevin. Delegate, Dimethoate, and Altacor). The effects of weathering on foliar deposits of promising insecticides against adults of tephritid fruit flies will be compared at the Pacific Basin Agricutural Research Center.

Approach:
Tests will be conducted on guava foliage. Twigs with guava leaves will be sprayed, allowed to weather, and then exposed for 24-48 hours to a fixed population of the four species of tephritid fruit flies inside cages. Mortality will be recorded. Although a combination of malathion and protein hydrolysate or GF-120 Fruit Fly Bait have become the preferred insecticide treatment for use against fruit flies, data obtained through these tests may provide information on alternative treatments and their residual effectiveness, particularly those treatments being used against SWD and ACP, for development of a systems approach for movement of produce from fruit fly quarantine areas.