ABSTRACT

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is an important fruit crop in Nigeria. It is a source of essential vitamins and is also cultivated for its nutritional, medicinal and industrial uses. Fruit flies infest various commercial fruit crops and cause economic damage. Mass trapping and male annihilation technique (MAT) has been the most useful and common means of controlling fruit flies with special focus on Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae) on mangoes. This study was conducted during the mango fruiting period of April/May 2019 season, when the density of fruit flies was at their peak. It evaluate the effectiveness of four types of parapheromones namely, Methyl eugenol (liquid and solid forms), Cuelure, Terpinyl acetate and Trimedlure for mass trapping of fruit flies on Mango and the effect of the parapheromones on the mean number of flies trapped. Modified Lynfield traps containing the parapheromones were randomly set on the mango orchards in three replicates in National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) orchard, Okigwe, Imo State, Southeast Nigeria. Effect of parapheromones on mean number of damaged dropped fruits was also evaluated. The mean populations of B. dorsalis and Ceratitis cosyra were significantly higher (P>0.05) in liquid methyl eugenol traps when compared to other parapheromones. B. dorsalis recorded more than 90% of the fruit flies that were trapped especially in the first 3 weeks of trapping. In orchard I, Liquid Methyl eugenol significantly (P<0.05) trapped highest number of B. dorsalis (270.20) in week 1. Mean population value (131.8) for Liquid Methyl eugenol was significantly different from all other treatments in both orchard 1 and 2. There was steady decline in damaged dropped mango fruits as the study progressed (Figures 4.1 and 4.2). Use of liquid Methyl eugenol was most effective in trapping B. dorsalis and C. cosyra, and it can be incorporated in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes for the control of fruit flies.

Keywords: Mangifera indica, Ceratitis cosyra, Bactrocera dorsalis, mass trapping, Parapheromones, Lynfield trap