The augmentorium, a tool for agroecological crop protection. Design, implementation and evaluation on farm conditions on Reunion Island

Abstract

Management of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) has shifted to agroecological crop protection on Reunion Island. Our approach relies mainly on risk prevention using an augmentorium. This tent-like structure confines rotting fruits collected on the field soil, then prevents the agroecosystem re-infestation by the next fly generation. Furthermore, its roof has a net with a mesh enabling escape for beneficial parasitoids. This study aimed at designing, implementing and evaluating the augmentorium technique under conditions on Reunion Island. Firstly, farmers and backyard owners readily accepted the technique as soon as it was correctly presented and explained. Secondly, two types of augmentorium were designed with users and locally manufactured in order to be both handy and adapted to the diversity of field situations. Thirdly, several tenths of farmers have used the augmentorium over the past two years: they feel it is simple, effective, environmentally safe and not time-consuming. In the future, the usage of the augmentorium can be considered in fields, rural villages and towns, linking agroecological crop protection to urban ecology.