Effect of Sticky Trap Color and Height on the Capture of Adult Oriental Fruit Fly, <i>Bactrocera dorsalis</i> (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae) on Chili Pepper

Abstract

Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a destructive pest to many major crops, including chili pepper (Capsicum frutescens L). The insect can cause yield loss up to 100% in the absence of any control measures. One control tactic commonly used by pepper growers to control the fruit fly is sticky trap to capture the adults. The purpose of the current study was to elucidate the effect of trap color and height on the fly capture. The results showed that yellow trap was consistently the most attractive trap amongst the other trap colors tested with an overall average of 62.6 adults per trap during the study. The second most attractive traps were white and green traps with overall averages of 45.2 and 40 adults per trap, respectively. The attractiveness levels of the red and blue traps were comparable each other with overall averages of 29.4 and 25.4 adults per trap, respectively. The least attractive trap was black trap with an overall average of 17.1 adults per trap, which was significantly lower than the other trap colors. In addition, traps set up at 25 and 50 cm above the ground captured significantly more adults (187.8 and 171.9 per trap, respectively) compared to those set up at 75 and 100 cm above the ground (60.8 and 37.1 per trap, respectively). When the combination of the color and height of the traps were analyzed, the yellow, white and green traps set up at 25 and 50 cm above the ground caught the highest numbers of adult fruit flies and they were not significantly different each other. Thus, these combinations should be recommended to the pepper growers to control the insect in their plantations.

Monitoring and eco-friendly management of cucurbit fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) on bitter gourd

“…Other than a yellow sticky trap set at 50 cm height, it showed a steady increase and decrease due to weather parameters and various biotic and abiotic factors. The present results agreed with those of Said et al (2016), who studied the effect of sticky trap color and height on the capture of adult oriental fruit fly, B. dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae) on chili pepper in Indonesia and found that yellow trap was consistently the most attractive trap amongst the other trap colors tested with an overall average of 62.6 adults per trap during the study where the second most attractive trap were white and green traps with overall averages of 45.2 and 40 adults per traps respectively. Besides that, trap height from the ground can also affect the preference of particular species.…”

Response of Insects to the Light and Coloured Sticky Traps

“…is the main pest in the red chili which often results in rotting and fall of fruit. Research conducted by Sikandar et al [9] in an orange orchard in Pakistan showed that the most preferred colour of fruit flies is yellow and transparent, while the results of the study of Said et al [10] in the chili garden showed that the most preferred fruit flies were yellow and white. This is due to differences in ecosystems, especially climate and also the possibility of differences in species of fruit fly pests, because fruit flies are known as complex species (Bactrocera dorsalis Complex) where among the species themselves are difficult to distinguish.…”

Characteristics of Chili (Capsicum annuum L.) That Are Resistant and Susceptible to Oriental Fruit Fly (Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel) Infestation

“…After two days, the eggs hatch into larvae and consume the fruit flesh, making the fruit rotten and unable to be sold, causing farmers to lose their crops. Several studies have reported that the rate of loss of chili fruits by fruit flies varies between 40 and 60% and could reach up to 100% loss if there is no fruit fly control [1,2].…”