A new mechanised cultural practice to reduce Ceratitis capitata Wied. populations in area-wide IPM

Abstract

The Mediterranean fruit fly (or medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), affects most of the fruit species grown in temperate and tropical climate regions, causing significant economic damage. One of the classical cultural strategies against this pest is to gather and bury the remaining fruit after harvest, but this is economically unfeasible today. Wood shredders already available in current Spanish groves can be used to grind or crush fruits laying on the soil as an alternative to this practice and to the use of pesticides in area-wide integrated pest management (IPM). With the purpose of evaluating this alternative, the initial step of this study was to perform laboratory tests to assess the efficacy of crushing and grinding as a method for controlling medflies. The results showed that grinding was 78% effective against larval stages, while crushing resulted in a 17% efficacy, leading us to choose the first alternative. As a second step, the operational parameters (type of cutting tool, shaft rotation speed and tractor speed) of the wood shredders were adjusted to efficiently carry out this practice under field conditions. Finally, the effect of the mechanised grinding of fallen fruit on C. capitata populations was evaluated for two consecutive years in commercial citrus orchards. The results showed a significant 27-46% reduction in C. capitata populations the following spring, thus demonstrating that the newly proposed mechanised alternative can be included in the current area-wide IPM of the pest in Spain.

Life stage-dependent susceptibility of Aphytis melinus DeBach (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) to two pesticides commonly used in citrus orchards

“…Although various environmentally friendly pest control tools, such as habitat management, cultural practices, mating disruption, and biological control, are currently adopted and implemented in citrus crops worldwide (Lim et al, 2006;Vacas et al, 2012;Aguilar-Fenollosa and Jacas, 2013;Chueca et al, 2013), chemical treatments are frequently applied in citrus groves (Rill et al, 2008;Garcerá et al, 2014;Monzò et al, 2014). The use of selective pesticides is therefore crucial for maintaining natural enemy populations and their ecosystem services (Prabhaker et al, 2007;Suma et al, 2009).…”

Potential of locally sustainable food baits and traps against the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata in Bolivia

“…The solutions offered are not limited to Bolivia but could be applied in fruit fly control in other geographical areas. Further, we would like to stress that fly trapping alone will not be sufficient in suppressing fly populations and needs to be integrated with other IPM components . Beyond technological solutions, however, there is a very strong need for concerted, area‐wide management programs to overcome the issue of reinfestation by dispersing flies from neighboring areas (border effects), which is particularly important in small‐scale farming systems …”

“…Further, we would like to stress that fly trapping alone will not be sufficient in suppressing fly populations and needs to be integrated with other IPM components. 10,35 Beyond technological solutions, however, there is a very strong need for concerted, area-wide management programs to overcome the issue of reinfestation by dispersing flies from neighboring areas (border effects), which is particularly important in small-scale farming systems. 10,36,37 Herrera and peach growers who helped out with their orchards are acknowledged.…”

Preliminary assessment of insecticidal activity of Moroccan actinobacteria isolates against mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata)

“…They could also be used where pests have developed resistance to conventional pesticides (Popp et al, 2013). For these reasons, there is an increasing concern in society for lowering the use of chemical insecticides and moving to safer practices in crop protection (Jemâa et al, 2010 ;Chueca et al, 2013), such as the development of new environmental friendly microbial insecticides (Aboussaid et al, 2011). Among bacteria, actinobacteria are the most prolific source for all types of bioactive metabolites, including bioinsecticides (Berdy, 2005;Liu et al, 2008;Herbert, 2010;Karthik et al, 2011;Omura, 2011;Deepika et al, 2012;Saurav et al, 2013).…”