Evaluation of traps and attractants for mass trapping of African Invader Fly, Bactrocera invadens on mango in south west Nigeria

Abstract

Mass trapping has demonstrated to be a powerful tool in the control of fruit flies, its use in African countries has currently increased remarkably as a control method. This study evaluated the efficacy of two traps; Lynfield Trap (LT) and Modified Lynfield Trap(MLT) and two lures (Methyl Eugenol (ME) and Protein Bait from Brewery Waste (PBBW)) for mass trapping of Bactrocera invadens Drew, Tsuruta, & White (Diptera: Tephritidae) on mango during 2014 and 2015 fruiting seasons. Traps containing attractants were randomly set on mango homestead trees in three replicates at three selected locations in Ibadan Southwest Nigeria. Results showed no significant difference (p > 0.01) between the trap types baited with ME attractant, although the MLT recorded higher catches of B. invadens during the two seasons. Methyl eugenol was significantly (p < 0.01) more effective than hydrolyzed protein bait from brewery waste in mass trapping B. invadens in the three locations of study. However, ME trapped only male B invadens while PBBW trapped both male and female. B. invadens population was highest at the peak of mango ripening (June) and the density of flies trapped in 2015 was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than 2014 in all the locations. Suitable choice of traps, lures and season enhances the mass trapping results. The use of Protein bait from brewery waste and modified lynfield trap for monitoring B. invadens and population suppression is promising and should be encouraged since they attract both sexes and less cost effective.

Keywords: trapping, mango, lures, fruit fly, control