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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 #220417
Title: Evaluation of Formulations for Fruit Fly Surveillance in New Zealand

Author
item SUCKLING, DAVID - HORTRESEARCH NEW ZEALAND
item Jang, Eric
item Carvalho, Lori
item HOLDER, P - BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND
item STEPHENS, A - HORTRESEARCG NEW ZEALAND

Submitted to: Pest Management Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/10/2008
Publication Date: 6/30/2008
Citation: Suckling, D.M., Jang, E.B., Carvalho, L.A., Holder, P., Stephens, A.E., Jessup, A. 2008. Evaluation of Formulations for Fruit Fly Surveillance in New Zealand. Pest Mgt Sci. 64: 848-856.

Interpretive Summary: In this study, we tested conventional fruit fly lures used in detection trapping programs in New Zealand. We also evaluated some new lures developed by USDA-ARS in Hawaii. The test was carried out in Hawaii since New Zealand does not have exotic fruit flies established in that country. The study indicated that while some of the existing lures used in current detection programs are still effective, improved lures could be used in some cases to detect exotic fruit flies.

Technical Abstract: Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) represent a major biosecurity threat to the horticulture sector of New Zealand and a surveillance programme is in place so that an incursion may be discovered as early as possible. Climate matching was used to determine overseas trapping sites that could mimic New Zealand's meteorological conditions in the presence of four key fruit flies. Experiments compared Lynfield traps baited with current lures dispensers and newer wafer dispensers for Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata), melon fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae) and Oriental fruit fly (B. dorsalis) in locations with climates similar to New Zealand (high altitude in Hawaii), and Queensland fruit fly (B. tryoni, in New South Wales, Australia). Catches of wild Oriental fruit flies were 9.5-fold higher with methyl eugenol wafers than with the existing standard plugs. Recaptures of sterile melon flies were 2.6-fold higher with cuelure wafers than with the existing standard plugs. Recaptures of 3,048 sterile Mediterranean fruit flies was not significantly higher with trimedlure in wafers than with the existing standard plugs. Release rate and trapping experiments found new lure formulation technologies differed in release rate characteristics from existing dispensers under temperate and sub-tropical conditions and indicated some potential for improvement in surveillance efficacy.