EFFECT OF TRAP COLOR, BAIT, SHAPE, AND ORIENTATION IN ATTRACTION OF BLUEBERRY MAGGOT (DIPTERA, TEPHRITIDAE) FLIES

Yellow, green, red, and blue sphere traps (9 cm diameter) were equal t o or better than Pherocon AM yellow board traps in attracting blueberr y maggot, Rhagoletis mendax Curran, flies. Because the sticky surface area of the Pherocon AM yellow board trap is 1.6 times greater than th e sphere, sphere traps captured more flies per unit area. Both sphere and yellow board traps baited with ammonia were significantly more att ractive than unbaited traps, thus ammonia may be the primary cue in at traction over trap shape or color. Ammonium carbonate dissipated withi n 2 wk from polycon dispensers and improvements in dispensers mat allo w season-long monitoring of blueberry maggot flies. More female than m ale flies were captured on ammonia baited traps over the season, which is consistent with findings that Rhagoletis female flies seek a prote in source for egg maturation. A shift from yellow boards to spheres as the season progressed was not observed.