Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #304223
Title: Mass trapping for Anastrepha suspensa

Author
item Epsky, Nancy
item Kendra, Paul

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/21/2014
Publication Date: 5/1/2014
Citation: Epsky, N.D., Kendra, P.E. 2014. Mass trapping for Anastrepha suspensa. Meeting Abstract. 9th International Symposium on Fruit Flies of Economic Importance, Bangkok, Thailand, 11-16 May 2014.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Mass trapping has been found to be highly effective for control of pest fruit flies when populations are low and a highly effective lure is available for the target species. Successful population control through mass trapping is an indicator that attract-and-kill bait stations may be equally successful, and can provide a predictor of levels of control that can be achieved through use of bait stations. The Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa, is a serious pest of guava, Psidium guajava L., and growers in south Florida, USA, are in need of alternatives to pesticide application for fruit fly control. Field studies were conducted in a small planting of guava to investigate the potential use of mass trapping for control of A. suspensa. Multilure traps baited with a two component food-base lure comprised of ammonium acetate and putrescine (BioLure) were placed in every tree throughout the season. Numbers of male and female flies trapped were determined weekly by placing Multilure traps baited with torula yeast/borax solutions in 5 trees in the middle of plots with mass traps and without mass traps (control) for 24 h. Additional data were collected on number of flies per mass trap and fruit infestation levels. Results of tests conducted over several years found that mass trapping had the potential to not only decrease number of adult flies in the plot but also to decrease infestation level during some of the sample periods. Although these tests were conducted in areas that are not optimal for control, mass trapping was found to be successful. Deployment over a larger area and development of more effective attractants for this pest may provide a new tool for guava growers in south Florida.