ARS | Publication request: Targeted Cue-lure Trapping, Bait-spray, Sanitation, Sterile-male and Parasitoid Releases in an Area Wide Integrated Melon Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Control Program in Hawaii

Submitted to: Proceedings, XXI International Congress of Entomology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 20, 2008
Publication Date: July 5, 2008
Citation: Jang, E.B., Mcquate, G.T., Mcinnis, D.O., Bautista, R.C., Vargas, R.I., Mau, R.F., Wong, L. 2008. Targeted Cue-lure Trapping, Bait-spray, Sanitation, Sterile-male and Parasitoid Releases in an Area Wide Integrated Melon Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Control Program in Hawaii. Proceedings, XXI International Congress of Entomology.

Interpretive Summary: As the first target area put under suppression in the Area Wide Integrated Pest Management of Fruit Flies in Hawaii, Kamuela was subjected to an organized application of sanitation, bait spray, male annihilation with cuelure and release of sterile male oriental flies as well as the parasitoid Psyttalia fletcheri. This combined effort reduced the male melon fly population in Kamuela 99.9%. Fruit infestation by melon fly was reduced and average of 50.6% (83.2% with all techniques implemented). Comparing the population in Kamuela to three locations outside the targeted area, melon fly was 94.7% lower and oriental fruit fly was 83.2% lower than the average of the three control sites. In addition, growers learned that they could maintain low infestation by sanitation, male trapping and bait spray alone.

Technical Abstract: Introduction: An area wide IPM approach to melon fly Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera:Tephritidae) suppression was undertaken as part of a Hawaii state-wide program funded by USDA-ARS Area Wide Initiative. Methods: A grid of 1 cuelure trap/ km2 over 40 km2 was established in Kamuela, HI to pinpoint areas of infestation. A targeted male trapping array was applied based on the distribution of host plants (mapped using GIS). Monitoring existing traps led to increasing trap density where catch was highest to achieve male annihilation. Sanitation, bait spray, Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), and augmentation of Psyttalia fletcheri parasitoids were also applied. Results: Pre-treatment trapping in the farming area indicated a melon fly population peak of 11.94±9.90 flies/trap/day (f/t/d) in October 2000. By 2003, mean grid trap catch over 16 weeks was 0.0160±0.005 f/t/d /km2, i.e. a 99.87% reduction. During 2000-2001 mean infestation was 50.6±4.9% in sampled fruit. In 2002, with all suppression activities fully implemented, the infestation rate averaged 8.5±4.8% that is an 83.2% reduction. Between Aug. 2002 and Aug. 2003, infestation in all observed fruits over 40 km2 averaged 14.3±2.9% after some suppression activities had been suspended. Uncultivated, wild hosts showed 87.5% mean decline in flies per gram of fruit. Conclusions: A 3-component suppression strategy of sanitation, male annihilation and bait spray effectively suppresses melon fly.