An Evaluation of Insecticidal Trunk Injections for the Control of the European Cherry Fruit Fly Rhagoletis cerasi L. (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

Cherry productivity is challenging in Europe due to the presence of the cherry fruit fly (Rhagoletis cerasi). Trunk injection is an alternative method of insecticide delivery that may improve pesticide performance in controlling pests. In our study, four pesticides (abamectin, acetamiprid, flupyradifurone, and cyantraniliprole) were investigated for trunk injection against R. cerasi. Acetamiprid trunk injection in a minimum dose of 0.56 g/tree was suitable for protection against the pest, the efficacy of the control was over 95%, and the pesticide residue concentrations in the fruits were below the maximum permissible limit in each experiment. The trunk injection and foliar spray of the same dose of acetamiprid were equally effective. In the case of the other three active ingredients (abamectin, flupyradifurone, and cyantraniliprole), the trunk injection method did not prove suitable for practical use due to various reasons, which are detailed in the manuscript.