Field tests of environmentally friendly malathion replacements to suppresswild Mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera : Tephritidae) populations

This article reports a large-scale field test of two environmentally friend ly malathion replacements on wild populations of the Mediterranean fruit fl y Ceratatis capitata (Wiedemann): spinosad, a bacteria-derived toxin, and p hloxine B, a red dye with phototoxic properties. The comparison test was co nducted on 11 coffee fields infested with wild populations of Mediterranean fruit ny on the Hawaiian island of Kauai with 8-wk protein bait sprays wit h and without toxicants. To assess effectiveness. adults were trapped and l arval infestation levels were evaluated with fruit collections. Malathion w as found to he the most effective treatment. However, the two replacements save significant levels of control, and because they are environmentally sa fer, should be considered for eradicating incipient populations of this inv asive species of fruit ny. Cage tests were also conducted to ensure that th e wild flies consumed the bait and to assess how long the Lait-toxicant com bination remained effective in the field. Although spinosad and phloxine B were found to be effective up to 1 wk, malathion remained effective at leas t 2 wk.