Trapping of Ceratitis capitata Using the Low-Cost and Non-Toxic Attractant Biodelear

Abstract

Trapping is considered a powerful tool in the monitoring and control of fruit flies of high economic importance such as the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae). However, the cost of trapping and, in some cases, the safety of the chemicals used as baits are concerning for growers and the environment. Here we present a novel, low cost, environmentally friendly, female-specific bait for C. capitata, called Biodelear, that consists of a mixture of attracting compounds such us pyrazines, pyranones and amorphous nitrogen-based polymers. The new bait was compared to the commercially available attractant Biolure® (Suterra LLC, Bend, OR, USA) in Greece. McPhail-type traps were deployed in an orange orchard located in Athens. Five traps per treatment were used for several weeks during 2009 and four traps per treatment in 2010. Traps contained either 17 g of Biodelear or one Biolure Unipack dispenser. The results showed that both baits were highly efficient in attracting C. capitata females, and to a lesser extent, males. Although Biolure initially appeared to outperform Biodelear, later in the season the two attractants converged in efficacy. In both years, female captures were similar in traps baited with Biolure and Biodelear. However, male captures were higher in Biodelear-baited traps in 2010. In addition, Biodelear seemed to be longer lasting than Biolure, despite not being formulated into a slow-release dispersion system. The low cost of Biodelear and its strong, long-lasting effects render it suitable for mass trapping of the Mediterranean fruit fly.