[en] Several species of fruit flies cause serious losses to fleshy fruits in Mauritius. Due to fruit production being confined mainly to backyard gardens, traditional methods of control do not give satisfactory results. Full cover sprays with chemicals also pose potential environmental and health risks. Alternative control methods were developed and an area-wide control programme was conceived, using bait application to bring down fruit fly population, followed by intensive trapping of males, using pheromones, to keep the population at low levels. An effective attractant system for mass trapping of females integrated into the wide area programme would greatly enhance control. The use of synthetic food-based attractants for trapping Ceratitis capitata and other fruit fly species was investigated in two phases and compared with different trapping systems. In the Phase III experiments, a two component lure, ammonium acetate + putrescine (FA-2) and a three component lure, ammonium acetate + putrescine + trimethylamine (FA-3) were tested in different traps and compared with standard liquid protein-baited International Pheromone's McPhail Trap (IPMT). Frutect trap, Tephri-trap and Jackson trap with Trimedlure were also used. The medfly female catch with the FA-3 lure used in the Open Bottom Dry Trap outnumbered the catches in other traps. In Phase IV, the final year of the trial, the FA-3 lure was tested in wet and dry IPMT and Tephri traps. These were compared with IPMT containing NuLure + borax (NU+B) as standard and with locally developed traps. The FA-3 lure gave the highest catches of female medflies in the IPMT with water as retaining device followed by IPMT with DDVP, although catches were not significantly different from IPMT with NU+B. (author)

No abstract available

[en] Among tephritid fruit flies, Bactrocera zonata and B. cucurbitae are the most destructive pests of tree fruits and cucurbits, respectively, in Mauritius. A feasibility study is ongoing with technical and financial assistance from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Joint FAO/IAEA Programme, on integrated management of fruit flies using the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). Management of fruit flies by SIT or other techniques require population estimation methods which accurately reflect changes in population levels. While male specific sexual lures have been quite effective in monitoring population levels, depending on the fruit fly species, female attractants have been less effective. A trapping system geared towards female flies would be a good tool for improving the efficacy of integrated fruit fly management including SIT and monitoring its effectiveness. A Coordinated Research Project (CRP) was implemented by the FAO/IAEA from 2000 to 2005. The CRP had the objective of developing and comparing female trapping systems for use in combination with bait application technologies and SIT, and to provide a standardized surveillance system among fruit fly pest species and regions. Trials were conducted in different geographical and ecological regions. Mauritius was one of the 15 participating countries. While studies in Mauritius focused mainly on Bactrocera zonata and B. cucurbitae, other fruit fly species were also taken into consideration. Trials were conducted in four phases. Trapping trials targeting B. zonata were set out in backyards with a variety of fruit trees as hosts while trials with B. cucurbitae were carried out in growers' cucurbit plantations. The CRP compared the use of different food attractants such as NuLure, Torula Yeast, Ammonium Bicarbonate (AB), Ammonium Phosphate (AP), Ammonium Acetate (AA) and Ammonium Sulphate (AS) and the three component lure AA, PT and Trimethylamine (TMA) in different combinations. Food attractants, namely protein hydrolysate, Torula Yeast and GF120 were also tested. In the Phase I trials, the food attractants Torula Yeast and NuLure were found to be more effective in capturing B. zonata, B. cucurbitae, Ceratitis rosa or C. capitata as compared to traps baited with AA. The three component lures, AA+PT+TMA (Biolure) performed better than the single AA attractant in capturing females B. zonata or B. cucurbitae in the Phase II and III trials. The three component lure (Biolure) was also the most effective attractant for C. rosa and C. capitata. No significant difference was obtained among the treatments comprising of different combinations of the three component lures as compared to other food attractants such as protein hydrolysate or GF120 in Phase IV trials. The synthetic food attractants based on AA alone or in combination with other attractants, appear to be a more effective and selective option for fruit fly surveillance including B. zonata, B. cucurbitae, Ceratitis rosa and C. capitata, than the more conventional hydrolysate protein NuLure and the Torula yeast. (author)

No abstract available

[en] Fruit flies are major constraint to fruit production in Mauritius. The peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders), the natal fly, Ceratitis rosa (Karsch), the medfly, C. capitata (Wiedmann) are the main pests of fleshy fruits. Fruit fly trapping trials were conducted in backyards to find the most effective combination of attractant and lures for females. There were two separate trapping trials, carried out in two different localities during the period November 2004 to March 2005. In the first trial, the attractants in different combinations were tested in International Pheromone McPhail Trap (IPMT). The attractants were as follows: three patches containing Ammonium Acetate (AA) + Trimethylamine (TMA) + Putrescine (PT); Two patches of AA ; two patches of AA + one patch of PT ; two patches of AA + one patch of TMA; one patch of solbait; torula tablets; protein hydrolysate and GF120. Water and Triton B were used as retention device in traps baited with the patches. In the first trial, all treatments were equally effective in the capture of either female B. zonata or female C. capitata with the exception of protein hydrolysate and GF120 which trapped fewer numbers of flies. In the second trapping trial, additional trap types and lure combinations were assessed. The three component lure (AA + PT + TMA with water/Triton as retention device in IPMT) and the trap baited with Waste Brewer's Yeast captured significantly more female flies followed by IPMT with AA + PT + TMA / Sticky insert and the Easy trap. In all trials, females accounted for more than 75% of the catches. (author)

[en] Full text: In Mauritius, there exist several species of fruit flies namely the peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders), the Natal fly, Ceratitis rosa (Karsch), and the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedmann), which attack fleshy fruits such as mango, peach, guava, papaya among others, the Ber fruit fly, Carpomya vesuviana, in addition attacks jujube only, and the melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillet), which is the most important pest of cucurbits. In the absence of control measures, fruit flies constitute a severe constraint to fruit and vegetable production and thus limit their commercialisation. As such, large quantities of fruits have to be imported. An area-wide National Fruit Fly Control Programme (NFFCP) was initiated in 1994, funded by the European Union until 1999 and now fully financed by the Government of Mauritius. The NFFCP targets mainly some 75,000 backyard fruit trees owners. The bait application and male annihilation techniques (BAT and MAT) are currently being applied against the fruit flies attacking fleshy fruits and are targeting selected major fruit growing areas in the north, north-east, central and western parts of the island. Successful control has been achieved using these two techniques as demonstrated by trap catches and fruit samplings. The level of fruit fly damage to fruits has been reduced. Presently, the baitinsecticide mixture is being supplied free of charge to the public. For the melon fly control, an integrated approach has been developed and recommended to cucurbit growers. This package includes use of insecticide cover sprays combined with bait application, male annihilation and cultural control with emphasis on field sanitation. The current status of the area-wide suppression programme is such that continuation of using BAT/MAT is a never-ending process and as such is not viable. In this context, an International Atomic Energy Agency TC project MAR 5/015 entitled 'Feasibility studies for integrated use of Sterile Insect Technique for area-wide tephritid fruit fly control' is being implemented. Work is being carried out towards refining the BAT. Preliminary studies are being done on the radiation biology of the peach fruit fly. One Research Contract Project 11178/RBF on 'Development of improved attractant and their integration into SIT fruit fly management programmes' has just been completed. A new Research Contract Project 12859/RBF on 'Assessment of biotic factors and semiochemicals in enhancing male mating ability and competitiveness in sterilised peach fruit fly' has started. Studies are also being carried out on mass-rearing of the peach fruit fly and the melon fly for small scale trials on SIT. (author)

[en] An area-wide National Fruit Fly Control Programme (NFFCP) was initiated in 1994, funded by the European Union until 1999 and now fully financed by the Government of Mauritius. The NFFCP targets some 75,000 backyard fruit trees owners mainly. The bait application and male annihilation techniques (BAT e MAT) are currently being applied against the fruit flies attacking fleshy fruits and are targeting selected major fruit growing areas in the north, north-east, central and western parts of the island. Successful control has been achieved using these two techniques as demonstrated by trap catches and fruit samplings. The level of fruit fly damage to fruits has been reduced. Presently, the bait-insecticide mixture is being supplied free of charge to the public. The current status of the area-wide suppression programme is such that continuous use of BAT/MAT is a never ending process and as such is not viable. In this context, a TC project on Feasibility studies for integrated use of sterile insect technique for area wide tephritid fruit fly control.Studies are also being carried out on mass rearing of the peach fruit fly for small scale trials on SIT so as to eventually integrate this control method in our area-wide control programme. (author)