Abstarct:The effects of imidacloprid and thiamethoxam against Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) and Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) adults were evaluated under broadcast spray and toxic bait systems in the laboratory. In general, when C. capitata and A. fraterculus were sprayed with insecticides, the time required for killing them was inversely proportional to the neonicotinoid concentrations. By cover spray, females and males of A. fraterculus were more susceptible to imidacloprid and thiamethoxam than C. capitata, presenting significantly lower LT 50 . In the case of imidacloprid bait, no differences at LT 50 were detected between females or males of both fruit flies or between sexes of respective fruit fly species. In general, C. capitata and A. fraterculus adults died in all the toxic baits up to 7 days after application on citrus leaves in the field. The data emphasize the viability of the use of neonicotinoids for the control of fruit flies.
Key words: medfly, South American fruit fly, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, toxic bait
INTRODUCTIONThe medfly -Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) and South American fruit fly -Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) were considered the most important fruit fly species (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Brazil in terms of economic importance, due to their large distribution, dominance and number of known hosts. Besides damage to the yield, the incidence of both species provides specific restrictions to export trade fruit to several countries around the world.A wide range of fruits and vegetables are infested by C. capitata and A. fraterculus in Brazil (Zucchi 2000, 2001), including almost all commercial fruits. In the state of São Paulo, both tephritid species have been captured in McPhail traps almost all year long, although with different population peaks.In Brazilian, malathion and others organophosphates have been used in the field against fruit flies over the past 40 years (Sampaio et al. 1966;Orlando and Sampaio 1973;Reis Filho 1994;Salles 1995). Nowadays, five organophosphates, two pyrethroids and spinosad were registered in Brazil for controlling fruit flies (Agrofit 2010). Although the applications are effective in initial fruit fly infestations, the successive sprays of organophosphates and pyrethroids have caused secondary insect and mite pest outbreaks in many Brazilian orchards, like orange (personal information) and pome fruits (Kovaleski et al. 2000). Furthemore, organophosphate applications are restricted (Vargas et al. 2002;Barry and Polavarapu 2004) in many countries. The restrictions make it difficult to manage tephritid populations in fruit crops. Hsu et al. (2004) suggest that Oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) can develop resistance to various insecticides, including malathion. Cross-resistance between chemicals may also be found for this species. Koren et al. (1984) concluded that medfly females can develop slight resistance to malathion after a nine generation selection process.Although registered insecticides in Brazil are still effective against C. c...