Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Hilo, Hawaii » Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center » Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #183161
Title: TEST PF EFFECTIVENESS OF NEWLY FORMULATED PLASTIC MATRIX WITH METHYL EUGENOL FOR MONITORING BACTROCERA DORSALIS (HENDEL) POPULATIONS

Author
item HIRAMOTO, M - U OF HAWAII
item ARITA-TSUTUMA, L - U OF HAWAII
item Jang, Eric

Submitted to: Hawaiian Entomological Society Proceedings
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/9/2005
Publication Date: 5/9/2006
Citation: Hiramoto, M., Arita-Tsutuma, L., Jang, E.B. 2006. Test pf effectiveness of newly formulated plastic matrix with methyl eugenol for monitoring bactrocera dorsalis (hendel) populations. Hawaiian Entomological Society Proceedings. 38:103-110.

Interpretive Summary: In this study we tested the attraction of methyl eugenol to oriental fruit flies using two formulations, 4 ml of methyl eugenol on a cotton wick and a newer polymer plug containing 2 gr of methyl eugenol. The results of out study suggest that in the field the 2 gram polymer plug will last as long as the cotton wick containing 4 grams for the first 2 months. This is normally sufficient for use in monitoring programs, but that for longer periods and non-monitoring applications, polymer plugs containing 4-10 grams would be more effective for areawide control.

Technical Abstract: Methyl eugenol (4-allyl-1-2-dimethoxybenzene-carboxylate) is a commonly occurring plant phenylpropanoid which is a highly attractive lure to the male Oriental Fruit Fly Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel). Twelve plastic bucket traps were hung out in a row of Norfolk pine trees. Each trap contained either the 4 ml of methyl eugenol on a cotton dental wick, 2 gram methyl eugenol plastic matrix (hereafter called a ‘plug’), or an untreated dental wick (as a control). After 5 months and 12 days the control wick was charged with 2ml of liquid methyl eugenol and was subsequently recharged every two weeks with 2 ml of methyl eugenol. Results showed that the 4ml treated wick and the 2 gram plastic methyl eugenol plug had no significant difference in catch per trap per day for the first 2 months. Although the plug actually averaged higher catch the difference was not significant by analysis of variance with or without repeated measures. Using the repeated measures analysis, date was the most significant factor, although there was no interaction between the effects of lure and date. In the subsequent 2 months, the plastic lures continued to catch at a declining rate (mean 36.7 ± 15.0% of the 4 ml lure on a cotton wick). The data suggest that the plastic lure could be used for 2 months where temperatures are not extreme. In exclusion programs maximum rate of catch is a requirement, but that is not necessary for population suppression. For the latter purpose, the 2 ml methyl eugenol plug could be used longer than two months, or the matrix could be adjusted to hold a larger volume of lure. A plug containing 5 g of methyl eugenol was able to catch flies efficiently for one year. Fly capture was more efficient in one-way entrance traps than in traps containing toxicant.