Mass trapping is being used in Mediterranean regions to control Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in citrus. The technique is based on placing a high density of traps with an attractant (Ferag CC D TM®, a three‐membrane dispensers of trimethylamine, ammonium acetate and diaminoalkane), and a toxicant, aiming to capture the highest numbers of adults in the grove. From 2006 to 2008, field trials were conducted in commercial Clementine (Citrus reticulata Blanco) groves to evaluate the efficacy against medfly of using different trap densities, 25, 50, 75 and 100 traps per ha. Based on the number of adults captured, fruit maturity parameters and medfly fruit damage, a 25 trap per ha density appears to be a valid stand‐alone method to protect mid‐season varieties (Clemenules) from the attack of C. capitata, because <0.5% of fruits on average were damaged at harvest. For early‐season varieties (Loretina and Marisol), mass trapping technique alone did not offer a satisfactory medfly control, because medfly populations were higher in the warmer months of the early‐season variety production, which led to a higher percentage of attacked fruits, even when increasing the trap density from 50 to 100 per ha. However, using 50 traps per ha density combined with chemical treatments only to the perimeter row of the grove gave good results, because <2% of fruits in average were damaged at harvest.

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Seasonal and annual trends in Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) populations were analyzed to determine the factors that influence population fluctuations in the field. Adult flies were monitored along 2003-07 in two citrus areas in eastern Spain with similar climate, Valencia and Tarragona. Adults were present throughout the study period, even in winter. The initial annual population increase was related to previous winter and spring temperatures. Captures started to increase in April-May and usually reached a peak in July. This peak corresponded to the maximum capture period in Valencia, but not in Tarragona, where there was usually a second peak in autumn, with capture levels similar to the first peak. Gravid females were found throughout the year, even in overwintering populations of medfly. The availability of other host fruit species in the vicinity of the citrus groves may explain the differences in annual abundance and distribution of captures between the two areas studied.