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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #129123

Title: STATUS OF TEPHRITID FRUIT FLY CONTROL

Author
item Yee, Wee

Submitted to: Washington State Horticulture Association Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/15/2001
Publication Date: 12/1/2002
Citation: Yee, W.L. 2002. Status of Tephritid fruit fly control. Washington State Horticulture Association Proceedings.p.168-172.

Interpretive Summary: Abstract only for proceedings

Technical Abstract: Current control of the two major tephritid fruit fly pests in Washington and the Pacific Northwest, the western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens, and the apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella, is based almost entirely on insecticide use. To develop alternatives to, or, more realistically, to augment insecticide-based control, the biology and ecology of both flies need to be fully understood. Studies are being conducted at the Yakima Agricultural Research Laboratory to better understand the flies and to test methods for their control and detection. Studies with the western cherry fruit fly deal with the effects of a cherry diet on fly longevity and fecundity, the daily and seasonal activities of flies, fly mating behavior, and the effects of nematodes on fly mortality. Studies with apple maggot deal with the effects of ammonia on trapping flies and re- evaluation of host usage by the fly in Washington. A study testing the efficacy of the brown sugar flotation technique for detecting western cherry fruit fly larvae is also being conducted.