Hidrogenionic potential (pH) of the attractant, trap density and control threshold for Ceratitis capitata (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE) on Hamlin oranges in São Paulo central region, Brazil

Abstract

-This study evaluated the effect of initial pH values of 4.5, 6.5 and 8.5 of the attractant (protein bait) Milhocina® and borax (sodium borate) in the field, on the capture of fruit flies in McPhail traps, using 1, 2, 4 and 8 traps per hectare, in order to estimate control thresholds in a Hamlin orange grove in the central region of the state of São Paulo. The most abundant fruit fly species was Ceratitis capitata, comprising almost 99% of the fruit flies captured, of which 80% were females. The largest captures of C. capitata were found in traps baited with Milhocina® and borax at pH 8.5. Captures per trap for the four densities were similar, indicating that the population can be estimated with one trap per hectare in areas with high populations. It was found positive relationships between captures of C. capitata and the number of Hamlin oranges damaged, 2 and 3 weeks after capture. It was obtained equations that correlate captures and damage levels which can be used to estimate control thresholds. The average loss caused in Hamlin orange fruits by C. capitata was 2.5 tons per hectare or 7.5% of production. Index terms: true fruit flies, protein bait, damage, IPM, Citros. POTENCIAL HIDROGENIÔNICO (pH) DO ATRATIVO, DENSIDADE DE ARMADILHAS E NÍVEL DE CONTROLE PARA Ceratitis capitata (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE) EM LARANJA HAMLIN NA REGIÃO CENTRAL DE SÃO PAULO, BRASILRESUMO -Esta pesquisa teve como objetivos: avaliar o efeito do pH inicial, 4.5; 6.5 e 8.5, do atrativo proteico Milhocina® e bórax (tetraborato de sódio) na captura de moscas-das-frutas em armadilhas McPhail; estudar densidades de armadilhas, 1; 2; 4 e 8 por hectare, para estimar níveis de controle em laranja cv. Hamlin, na região central de São Paulo. A espécie predominante, com 99% das moscas-das-frutas capturadas, foi Ceratitis capitata, sendo 80% de fêmeas. As maiores capturas de C. capitata ocorreram nas armadilhas com Milhocina® e bórax em pH 8.5. As capturas, nas 4 densidades, foram semelhantes, indicando que a população pode ser estimada com uma armadilha por hectare em áreas de altas populações. Houve relações positivas entre capturas de C. capitata e o número de frutos danificados, 2 e 3 semanas após a captura. Assim, foram obtidas equações que relacionam a captura e o dano, possibilitando estimar níveis de controle desse inseto. As perdas médias causadas por C. capitata em laranja cv. Hamlin chegaram a 2,5 toneladas de frutos por hectare ou 7,5% da produção. Termos para indexação: moscas-das-frutas, dano, atrativo proteico, MIP, Cítros.

Enhancing the Attraction Efficiency of GF-120 for the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wied.) by Adding some Ammonium Compounds

“…Among pH values of 4.5, 6.5 and 8.5 for protein bait and borax, the highest numbers of C. capitata attracted to McPhail traps was recorded at pH 8.5. (Paiva and Parra 2013). Amounts consumed may be affected by the baits pH.…”

Oviposition of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) and its relation with the pericarp of citrus fruits

“…The South American fruit fly, Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann, 1830) and the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) (Diptera: Tephritidae) are reported as the most common fruit fly pests attacking citrus in Brazil (Silva et al, 2006;Paiva and Parra, 2013).…”

Improving the Efficiency of GF-120 Baits in Attracting BactroceraZonata by Adding Ammonium Compounds with Particular Emphasis on pH level

“…Indeed, adding more ammonium acetate to GF-120 enhanced its attractiveness to some eastern fruit fly, Rhagoletis cingulata (Loew) [19]. On the other hand, pH-level of the baits plays a fundamental role in attracting fruit flies, since the effectiveness of bait is diminished as the pH-level decreased [29,30,31,32,33]. This information therefore could be used in chemical analysis for identification of new attractants from preferred bait formulations.…”

“…which increased the attracted B. zonata flies). Also, addition of 1-10% borax to 10% Nulure solution (as food attractant) increased pH level, resulting in increased captures of Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) and C. capitata in traps under field conditions[29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43]. Mazor et al[47] mentioned that the elevation of the pH of the liquid commercial baits, Buminal and Naziman, increased the efficacy of the latter for C. capitata but the increased stimulation could not be strictly correlated with the increased rate of ammonia release.…”