The efficacy of an improved form of the mass‐trapping method, forthe control of the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) (Dipt., Tephritidae): pilot‐scale feasibility studies

Abstract

The efficacy of an improved form of the mass‐trapping method for the control of the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) was tested for 4 years in a pilot test at Tanagra Voeotia, Greece. Improvements consisted of the extension of the active life of the toxic trap used, active life referring both to its attracting and killing properties, as well as in trap deployment, which combined efficacy and low cost. The method was compared to bait sprays applied from the ground, which constitutes the current standard method for the control of this pest. Both pest population density and fruit infestation levels, the main parameters used for the evaluation of the two methods were considerably lower during all 4 years of tests in the orchards protected by mass trapping compared with those in the orchards protected by bait sprays. Furthermore no complementary measures were required in the mass‐trapping orchards for acceptable crop protection, which was not the case under certain conditions, prior to the introduction of the recent improvements. The cost of the mass‐trapping method was approximately US$ 0.40 per tree per year compared with US$ 0.35 for bait sprays (figures of the Greek Ministry of Agriculture). However, the mass‐trapping method reduces the amount of insecticide used for olive protection by 99.5% (15 mg a.i. per tree per year as opposed to 3 g in the case of bait sprays). A considerable reduction in the cost of the mass‐trapping method is expected with the extension of its use and the mass production of materials used, especially traps.

Biorational insecticides in pest management

“…A cost reduction should be taken into account for mass trapping success, particularly if it implies a reduction in the use of insecticides. 170) In Costa Rica, for instance, control of the American palm weevil Rhynchophorus palmarum as vector of the red ring nematode Bursaphelencus cocophilus, the infecting agent of the red ring diseased oil palms, was successfully achieved using less than one trap per five hectares. 171) Also, in Ethiopia, the implementation of an adaptive tsetse population management system along with the application of geostatistical methods to discover patches with increased fly densities allowed the authors to reduce the number of traps from 216 to 127, maintaining previously achieved levels of occurrences of the pest.…”

Entwicklung nachhaltiger Pflanzenschutzstrategien zur Bekämpfung von Schadschmetterlingen im Olivenanbau

“…By using IPM strategies, total cover sprays of insecticides have been replaced by bait spraying treatments; these are applied mainly from the ground and only when a particular level of economic threshold was exceeded (López-Villalta 1999). Other new methods consider mass trapping, or the attract and kill techniques involving pheromone and food baits (Broumas et al 2002;Mazomenos et al 2002;Ragoussis 2002).…”

Prospects for integrated control of olive fruit fly are promising in California

“…Another promising method of olive fruit fly control is the use of attractand-kill stations, which consist of a yellow plywood, paper or cardboard panel impregnated with a pyrethroid insecticide (deltamethrin) and baited with sex pheromone and/or ammonium bicarbonate (Broumas et al 2002;Haniotakis et al 1986). Attracted by the pheromone, ammonia and/or yellow color, flies land on the pyrethroid-impregnated panel and receive a lethal dose of insecticide.…”

“…Attract-and-kill stations are not sticky and so are effective for an extended period of time. They have shown good efficacy for olive fruit fly management in Greece (Broumas et al 2002;Haniotakis et al 1986). Manufactured attract-and-kill stations are not yet registered for use in California.…”