Area-Wide Pest Management of Fruit Flies in Hawaii

Niihau Kauai Oahu Molokai Lanai Kahoolawe Maui

R.F.L. Mau, J. Sugano, E. B. Jang, R. I. Vargas, and L. Wong

Hawaii

Outcomes Sought:



Suppression (control)



Sustainable (every year)



Environmentally friendly

Hands-on Teaching Philosophy

1-2-3 Suppression

Parasitoid Insects Sterile Insects Research Education Assessment Field Sanitation Male Annihilation Protein Bait

Area-Wide

Fruit Fly Management

Components

Building a Sustainable Statewide Extension Program  Define  Plan  Measure  Evaluate  Modify

Evaluation Tools  Testimonials  Survey Instruments  Observations

Methods of Measurements  Pre-Post /Post-Then Pre Test  Interviews  Testimonials  Observations  On-Farm Visitations

USDA-ARS

Baseline Grower Interviews  Descriptive survey research  Likert-type scales (5 point scales)  Surveyed fruit & vegetable growers

USDA-ARS

Purpose of Grower Interviews (Baseline)  Knowledge  Control strategies  Attitudes  Perceptions

Melon fly

Bactrocera cucurbitae

Applied Biology and Ecology  Melon fly female long maturation ca. 3 weeks  Melon fly has roosting behavior  Use trap plants near crops  Females need protein food  We can kill many females and males before they attain sexual maturity using a system of trap plantings and attract & kill food baits  Melon fly has a long lifespan  Reduce the lifespan of females using a system of trap plantings and attract & kill food baits

Why use bait sprays on melon fly roosting hostplants?

   Kills females and males where they live Weekly application increases chances of killing newly emerged flies before they become sexually mature (25 days) Kills mature flies and avoids additional egg laying (3-4+ months)

Corn Sudex Castor oil Tapioca Trap plants

• Plant melon fly roosting hosts– maize, tapioca, sudex, or castor oil weed • Roosting host should be

on-farm

where the food bait can be applied • Spray once a week, more often during rainy periods

Oriental fruit fly

Bactrocera dorsalis

Fruit fly suppression  10 to 15 ME traps per hectare  Protein spot application once or twice a week starting at fruit set  Sanitation