EVALUATION OF 2 TRAP DEPLOYMENT METHODS TO MANAGE THE APPLE MAGGOT FLY (DIPT, TEPHRITIDAE)

Two red sphere trap deployment methods were evaluated for their potent ial to capture apple maggot flies, Rhagoletis pomonella, and prevent o viposition. The first method was designed to simulate the interception of flies immigrating into an orchard by deploying odour-baited traps on perimeter trees. The second method was designed to simulate the con trol of flies emerging from within an orchard by using odour-baited tr aps on interior trees. Both methods were evaluated in an artificial or chard consisting of potted trees. In tests with hawthorn fruit (a favo ured fly host) and released flies of high egg load, both the perimeter and within-orchard trap deployment methods were successful at reducin g oviposition compared with a control treatment without traps. Similar trends were observed with apples, a lower ranking fly host, although the results were not statistically significant. Spheres baited with bu tyl hexanoate (fruit odour) and ammonium carbonate (food odour) were m ore effective than unbaited spheres in terms of capturing released fli es and preventing oviposition. Based on the results of this study, bot h perimeter and within-orchard trapping appear to have potential to re duce fruit injury and manage R. pomonella in commercial orchards.