Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #310323
Title: Wine and vinegar-based attractants for the African fig fly (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

Author
item Epsky, Nancy
item Gill, Micah
item Allen, Carina
item Cha, Dong
item Landolt, Peter

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/6/2014
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The African fig fly (AFF), Zaprionus indianus Gupta (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is an invasive fruit pest that has spread rapidly through much of the eastern United States after first being detected in Florida in 2005. This drosophilid is a primary pest of figs in Brazil, so there were initial concerns that it would be a primary pest of small fruit in the US. Although it has a wide host range in Africa, it has been found primarily in damaged fruit in Florida to date. With the appearance of the spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), there is a greater interest in pest drosophilid trapping systems and the development of a trapping system to monitor distribution of AFF. Initial field tests found low capture of this fly in traps baited with apple cider vinegar, a standard bait for SWD. Studies were initiated in 2012 to evaluate capture of AFF in traps baited with combinations of wine and vinegar, which is an improved bait developed for SWD. Subsequent studies evaluated combinations of chemicals that are emitted by this bait. Captures of AFF and non-target drosophilids were quantified, and results were compared to responses of SWD in similar tests.