Evaluation of Mass Trapping Devices for the Control of the European Cherry Fruit Fly [Rhagoletis cerasi (L.)]

Abstract

Rhagoletis cerasi (L.) is the most damaging pest of cherries in Europe and Western Asia and it has been recently introduced in North America. Females sting the ripening cherries and tolerance of damaged fruit is very low (<2%). The management of this pest is mainly based on insecticide applications near harvest. Only a few insecticides are authorized for this use in Europe, and repeated use of them likely entails environmental risks, resistance to insecticides and residues in the fruit. Therefore, alternative tools are needed. Trap-attractant combinations were compared on searching an efficient and economical device for a viable mass trapping method against R. cerasi on a large-scale use. A folded yellow sticky trap with a homemade ammonium acetate dispenser was the most efficient and also the cheapest one. The efficacy of mass trapping using this device was evaluated in farm-scale trials. With low pest pressure, mass trapping was sufficient to obtain commercially acceptable fruit. With high pest pressure, mass trapping reduced the number of insecticide (spinosad) applications while keeping damage below the economic threshold. Therefore, mass trapping can be a useful tool for managing R. cerasi and reducing insecticide application.