The peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) became a serious pest in Egypt; however, it attacking a wide range of fruit species. The purpose of this study was to enhance of Buminal, Agrinal and Amadene (commercially available protein-based baits in Egypt) in attracting B. zonata by using ammonium acetate and diammonium phosphate under the field conditions of a mango orchard. McPhail traps were used containing mixtures of protein-bait and ammonium compound (with ratios of 1:1, 2:1 and 1:2, respectively) in comparison with either protein-bait or ammonium compound alone. The obtained results showed that the attracted B. zonata flies to the mixtures between Buminal and ammonium acetate did not differ significantly with Buminal alone; while, all mixtures between the same bait and di-ammonium phosphate were significantly higher than Buminal alone. With respect to Agrinal, when it mixed with ammonium acetate (at a ratio of 1:1) or mixed with di-ammonium phosphate (at all ratios) attracted significantly higher numbers of B. zonata flies in comparison with Agrinal alone. Mixtures containing di-ammonium phosphate (at all ratios) or ammonium acetate (at a ratio of 1:1) mixed with Amadene exhibited significantly higher attractability for B. zonata flies in comparison with Amadene alone. On another hand, all of the tested treatments attracted more females than males. As a conclusion, each of Agrinal or Amadene can be enhanced by mixing any of them with di-ammonium phosphate or ammonium acetate at a ratio of 1:1 which resulting significantly higher attractability of B. zonata especially females; while, Buminal can be enhanced by mixing it with di-ammonium phosphate at the same ratio.

The Mediterranean fruit fly (MFF), Ceratitis capitata (Wied.) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is an important economic pest worldwide. The present work aimed to study the effect of peach fruit ripening and certain weather factors on population fluctuations of MFF on peach orchards during two successive seasons (2015 and 2016). An area of about 25 feddans was selected for the present study at Aga district, El-Dakahlia governorate, Egypt. The MFF showed two peaks of seasonal activity at the period of fruit ripening during the first season, whereas it recorded four peaks of abundance during the second season. Generally, these peaks of activity were confined between June and September. Population of MFF positively responded to fruit ripening. Among the weather factors, temperature has the highest effect on MFF population; relative humidity has the lowest, and wind speed has a moderate effect. The MFF population responded positively to both temperature and humidity, whereas it responded inversely to wind speed. Although weather factors had effects on MFF population, fruit ripening exhibited an extrusive effect on its population. Updating the information regarding factors that affect population dynamics of an insect under various ecological situations might lead to provide insights into pest control.

Males of many fruit flies of Bactrocera species were found to enhance their mating competitiveness after consumption of the kairomone lure, methyl eugenol (4-allyl-1, 2-dimethoxybenzene-carboxylate) [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. Methyl eugenol is a component of plant essential oil found in at least 200 species of plants from 32 families [14,15].Male annihilation technique (MAT) (lure and kill) is applied as spot treatments by using dispensers as carriers of the main component of MAT, methyl eugenol (the male attractant) and toxicant [16,17].Male annihilation technique is one of the fruit fly control methods where it aims to remove male insects, thus reducing male population. This disturbs the male: female ratio and reduces the insects' chances of mating and these females produce few progeny. Accordingly, the insect population at the target area declines and the insects could be eradicated at the end [16,18]. MAT was used successfully to eradicate the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) in Rota [19], Saipan [20] and Okinawa [21]; Asian papaya fruit fly, Bactrocera papayae in Australia [22] and Bactrocera species in Nauru [23]. Current control tactics of fruit flies depended mainly on AbstractPeach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Diptera: Tiphritidae) is considered as one of the most economically important pests for several kinds of fruits and vegetables. In order to reduce the cost of male annihilation technique (MAT) for controlling B. zonata, dilution of methyl eugenol with paraffin oil had been evaluated to reduce the quantity of methyl eugenol. Five concentrations of methyl eugenol (10, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) were tested with three insecticides belonging to different groups of pesticides; fentrithion, spinosad and a mixture of thiamethoxam+abamactin. Methyl eugenol-fentrithion mixture at 100% of methyl eugenol showed that the weekly mean numbers of captured males all over 10 successive weeks were significantly higher (87.3 individuals/block) than those obtained at 75% (45.9), 50% (32.4), 25% (34.2) and 10% (9.0). There were no significant differences between concentrations 50, 75 and 100% of methyl eugenol in spinosad mixture, while their effects on captured males were significantly higher than that obtained when 10% and 25% were used. Mean numbers of captured males subjected to methyl eugenol-thiamethoxam+abamactin mixture averaged 8. 8, 19.0, 24.9, 24.9 and 48.0 individuals/block at 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100%, respectively. Statistically, the mean number of captured males over the tested period at 100% of methyl eugenol was significantly higher than those obtained at 10, 25, 50 and 75%. Males of B. zonata were more attracted to methyl eugenol-spinosad mixture compared with methyl eugenol-(fentrithion and thiamethoxam+abamactin) mixtures. As a conclusion, dilution of methyl eugenol in paraffin oil till 50% in MAT by using spinosad (as an insecticide) did not significantly affect the captured males and had a high effect against B. zonata population. E n to m ology, Or n ith o lo g y & Herpet ...

Population fluctuations of the white mango scale insect, Aulacaspis tubercularis, Newstead, (Coccoidea: Diaspididae) had been studied in mango orchards located at two governorates, (Damietta and Gharbya) in the northern of Egyp during 2010. The obtained data revealed that A. tubercularis recorded three peaks at Damietta governorate; these peaks were recorded during February, June and August 2010 when 35.5, 39.1 and 127.1 individuals/leaf were recorded, respectively. At Gharbyia governorate two peaks during April 2010, (48.9 individuals/leaf) and July 2010, (32.6 individuals/leaf).The variables of temperature and relative humidity had slight effects on A. tubercularis population. On the other hand, A. tubercularis preferred south direction than the other cardinal directions (north, east and west) and center of mango tree canopy. Also, this pest preferred the upper surface of leaves during cold month (winter months) and preferred the lower surface of leaves during the hot months (summer months). The sex ratio had been recorded as 34.6:1 (male: females) at Damietta district, while, at Gharbayia governorate, it had been recorded as 20.5:1.

Spinosad, Lufenuron and Malathion were evaluated in controlling olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) under field conditions by using partial bait spray and killing bags during fruiting seasons of 2008 and 2009. The obtained results showed that the percentages of B. oleae populations and fruit infestation were obviously low in treated plots with Lufenuron, Spinosad and Malathion, respectively in comparison with control plot which were relatively high. The mean reduction percentages in B.