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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #276568

Title: Preferences by Rhagoletis indifferens (Dipt., Tephritidae) and non-target flies for rectangles of various yellow colours and fluorescence

Author
item Yee, Wee

Submitted to: Journal of Applied Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/19/2012
Publication Date: 4/12/2012
Citation: Yee, W.L. 2012. Preferences by Rhagoletis indifferens (Dipt., Tephritidae) and non-target flies for rectangles of various yellow colours and fluorescence. Journal of Applied Entomology. doi.10.111/J.1439-0418.2012.01725x.

Interpretive Summary: The western cherry fruit fly damages sweet cherry fruit and is a major quarantine pest of cherries in the western U.S. Efficient detection methods for adult flies are needed to tell if an area is free of or has a low prevalence of the fly. Personnel at the USDA-ARS Yakima Agricultural Research Laboratory in Wapato, WA tested the preference of the fly for seven sticky rectangles of various yellow colors and fluorescence. Saffron Thread and Citrus Splash traps caught the most cherry fruit flies and relatively few non-target flies. Results suggest that sticky rectangle traps painted Saffron Thread or Citrus Splash with low fluorescence could be highly useful for detecting cherry fruit flies.

Technical Abstract: Seven sticky rectangle traps of various yellow colours and fluorescence made of cardboard were field tested against western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran, in paired trap preference experiments in Washington state, USA. Alpha Scents (proprietary paint), Fluorescent Yellow (aerosol paint), Saffron Thread, Neon Light, Macaw, Citrus Splash, and Lemon Zest (all semi-gloss enamel) traps were tested. The Saffron Thread and Citrus Splash traps, which were very yellow with low fluorescence, were similarly preferred by R. indifferens and one or the other was preferred over the Fluorescent Yellow trap, which was yellower but had much higher fluorescence, and Neon Light and Macaw traps, which were less yellow than Saffron and Citrus Splash traps. The Citrus Splash trap was slightly more preferred than the less yellow Lemon Zest trap. Saffron Thread and Citrus Splash traps captured more R. indifferens than the Alpha Scents trap, but non-target muscoid flies preferred the Alpha Scents trap and their high numbers likely reduced catches of and obscured any preference for it by R. indifferens. Saffron Thread and Citrus Splash traps caught relatively few non-target muscoid flies and were more selective than the Alpha Scents trap. Results suggest that sticky rectangle traps painted semi-gloss enamel Saffron Thread or Citrus Splash with low fluorescence could be highly useful for detecting R. indifferens.