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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 #220731
Title: Targeted Trapping, Bait-spray, Sanitation, Sterile-male and Parasitoid Releases in an Area Wide Integrated Melon Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Control Program in Hawaii

Author
item Jang, Eric
item McQuate, Grant
item McInnis, Donald

Submitted to: American Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/15/2008
Publication Date: 12/15/2008
Citation: Jang, E.B., Mcquate, G.T., Mcinnis, D.O. 2008. Targeted Trapping, Bait-spray, Sanitation, Sterile-male and Parasitoid Releases in an Area Wide Integrated Melon Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Control Program in Hawaii. American Entomologist. 54: 240-250

Interpretive Summary: An area wide integrated pest management approach to melon fly Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera:Tephritidae) suppression in Kamuela, Hawaii, was undertaken as part of a larger state-wide program by the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Area Wide Initiative. a cuelure male trapping array was applied to catch melon fly based on the distribution of host plants, and these were mapped using geographic information systems. The traps were then increase in areas of high population. Sanitation of crops, application of GF120 Naturalyte NF® bait spray, Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), and augmentation of Psyttalia fletcheri parasitoids were also applied. Monitoring of the trap data and collection of fruit host indicated a 99.7% reduction in male flies/trap/day. Collection of fruit host to rear out flies infesting the fruit indicated an 83.2% reduction in percent of fruits infested.

Technical Abstract: An area wide integrated pest management approach to melon fly Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera:Tephritidae) suppression in Kamuela, Hawaii, was undertaken as part of a larger state-wide program by the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Area Wide Initiative. After a survey on 5 islands, a grid of 1 trap/ Km2 over 40 Km2 was established in Kamuela to locate areas of infestation. Then a targeted male trapping array was applied based on the distribution of host plants, and these were mapped using geographic information systems. Trap density was determined by monitoring existing traps and by increasing density where catch was high. Sanitation of crops, application of GF120 Naturalyte NF® bait spray, Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), and augmentation of Psyttalia fletcheri parasitoids were also applied. Pre-treatment baseline trapping in the farming area indicated a melon fly population peak of 11.94±9.90 flies/trap/day (f/t/d) on Oct 30, 2000. By 2003, the grid traps average catch over 16 weeks was 0.016'0.005 f/t/d /km2, a 99.87% reduction. Some resurgence of melon fly population to a 12 week average of 0.191±0.79 f/t/d/km2 occurred when USDA eliminated SIT and parasitoid release, and discontinued bait spray applications. This occurred primarily in the off-farm areas where growers had not adopted the three suppression techniques (sanitation, bait spraying, and male annihilation trapping). Restoring USDA bait sprays application and briefly reapplying SIT returned the population to a mean of 0.033±0.004 f/t/d/km2 between Jan 20 and Apr, 5 2004. Between Aug. 2002 and Aug. 2003, infestation in all observed fruits over 40 Km2 averaged 14.3±2.9%. In 2002, with all suppression activities implemented, the infestation rate averaged 8.5±4.8% compared to the 2000-2001 mean infestation of 50.6±4.9%.in sampled fruit. That is an 83.2% reduction. Uncultivated, wild hosts showed significant decline in flies per gram of fruit, whereas cultivated hosts did not.