INEXPENSIVE TRAPS FOR USE IN MASS TRAPPING ANASTREPHA LUDENS (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE)

Mass trapping is being developed to control the fruit fly Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in some citrus-growing areas of Mexico using a trap-lure pack composed of CeraTrap (R) lure and a specific bait station (MS2 (R)). The technique is based on placing a sufficient density of baited traps so that enough flies are captured to account for an important reduction in fruit infestation in the orchard. Trap-lure efficacy, trap density and cost ratio are crucial for broad implementation of this technique by growers. The use of handmade traps, constructed from 500 mL plastic bottles, with 3 10 mm holes at 2/3 up from the base, had similar attraction but captured more flies under caged conditions than 2 commercial traps sold in Mexico for this purpose. Under field conditions, the capture of A. ludens with plastic bottle traps was statistically superior to that of MS2 (R) traps. When placed at a density of 40 traps per ha in an orange (Citrus sinensis [L.]; Rutaceae) orchard, bottle traps had a significantly higher capture rate than a similar density of MS2 traps and provided satisfactory crop protection, with 0.3-2.3% of fallen fruits infested at harvest. The low cost of this trap, (similar to US$ 0.18), has the potential to greatly reduce mass trapping costs and could favor broad implementation of this strategy in Latin American countries that produce fruit crops affected by A. ludens.