Comparison of Rain-Fast Bait Stations Versus Foliar Bait Sprays for Control of Oriental Fruit Fly,Bactrocera dorsalis, in Papaya Orchards in Hawaii

Abstract

Bait stations represent an environmentally friendly attract-and-kill approach to fruit fly population suppression. Recently a novel, visually attractive, rain-fast bait station was developed in Hawaii for potential use against multiple species of pestiferous fruit flies. Here, we compared the efficacy of GF-120 NF Naturalyte Fruit Fly Bait applied either as foliar sprays or onto bait stations in reducing female oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), population density and level of fruit infestation in commercial papaya orchards in Hawaii. Trapping and infestation data were used as indicators of the effectiveness of the two bait application methods. For the first 10 weeks of the study, captures of female B. dorsalis in monitoring traps were significantly greater in control plots than in plots treated with foliar sprays or bait stations. Six weeks after the first bait spray, incidence of infestation (i.e. number of fruit with one or more B. dorsalis larvae) of quarter to half-ripe papaya fruit was reduced by 71.4% and 63.1% for plots with bait stations and foliar sprays, respectively, as compared to control plots. Twelve weeks after first spray, incidence of infestation was reduced by only 54.5% and 45.4% for plots with bait stations and foliar sprays, respectively, as compared to control plots. About 42% less GF-120 was used in orchard plots with bait stations compared to those subject to foliar sprays. The impact of field sanitation on the outcome is also discussed. The results indicate that bait stations can provide a simple, efficient, and economical method of applying insecticidal baits to control fruit flies and a safer alternative to foliar sprays.

Trapping and the Detection, Control, and Regulation of Tephritid Fruit Flies

“…This was demonstrated by Putruele and Mouqués (2007) with C. capitata in Argentina and by Piñero et al (2010) with B. dorsalis in papaya orchards in Hawaii. Likewise, in area-wide applications the use of bait stations to suppress high density populations in reservoirs has proven effective.…”

“…Its performance relative to other bait stations has not been assessed in formal studies. Papaya Leaf Mimics Piñero et al (2009aPiñero et al ( , 2010 demonstrated the potential of bait spray applications of GF-120, when used in combination with other management techniques, in achieving a low fruit fly prevalence area in papaya orchards in Hawaii. However, high levels of rainfall affect the efficacy of bait sprays.…”

“…As noted above, Piñero et al (2010), working in commercial papaya orchards in Hawaii, compared the effectiveness of GF-120 applied to PLMs (a 20 % dilution; 30 PLMs per ha) or applied to the foliage (a 10 % dilution) to control B. dorsalis. They also conducted an analysis of costs associated with the construction and deployment of PLMs for fruit fly control.…”

“…In Hawaii, Piñero et al (2010) compared the effectiveness of GF-120 Fruit Fly Bait applied to PLMs at controlling B. dorsalis with that of bait sprays. Trapping using MultiLure traps baited with torula yeast and infestation data were used as indicators of the effectiveness of the two bait application methods.…”

A review of plant protection against the olive fly (Bactrocera oleae (Rossi, 1790) Gmelin) and molecular methods to monitor the insecticide resistance alleles

“…Recently, a bait station for attraction and control of oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel, 1912)) was recently implemented (Piñero et al, 2010). Such attract-and-kill bait stations have the advantage over foliar applications, because the insecticidal bait is protected from weather conditions.…”