Determination of Population Development, Density and Infection Rate of Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) (Diptera: Tephritidae)) in Fruit Gardens of Iğdır Province

Abstract

This study was carried out by the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) (Diptera: Tephritidae)) was carried out in apple, pear, peach and nectarine orchards in the villages of Iğdır Province Central district in 2021 in order to determine the population development and damage rate in cultivated plants. The population of the pest was followed by using delta trap + McPhail type (Decis Trap) traps containing pheromone in an orchard in Bayraktutan, Çalpala, Kuzugüden and Küllük villages, representing the region. Traps placed in the gardens are placed at a height of 1.5 – 2 m from the ground, on the outward facing branches of the trees, in the south-south east direction. Counting of adults caught in the traps was done once a week between 5 September 2021 and 21 November 2021. The damage rate on fruits was determined by examining 50 randomly selected apple, peach or nectarine fruits from the orchards every two weeks from the date the adults started to appear in the traps. The highest level of Mediterranean fruit fly adult population was recorded on 24 October 2021. The first adults were seen on September 5th. While the highest density per trap was reached with 200 adults/week on October, it was determined that the second highest population density was reached with 73 adults/week on 14 November. Damage was determined at the rate of 17,6% in Bayrakatutan location, 12% in Çalpala location, 8,4% in Kuzugüden location, and 18,4% in Küllük location