Field evaluation of Medfly (Dipt., Tephritidae) female attractants in a Mediterranean agrosystem (Balearic Islands, Spain)

Field evaluation of female-targeted trapping systems for the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Wied.) was carried out in a Citrus orchard in Majorca (Spain). Traps and lures included: IPMT and Tephri traps, both bai ted with a three-component food-based synthetic attractant 3FA (composed of putrescine, ammonium acetate and Trimethylamine) as well as IPMT-baited wi th Nu-Lure, and Delta traps baited with Trimedlure. The 3FA food-based synt hetic attractant was set up either wet (containing water) or dry (without w ater) in IPMT and Tephri traps. Two experiments were conducted, the first d uring autumn/winter conditions and high Medfly population levels, and the s econd during spring conditions and low population levels. The results obtai ned show that the 3FA was very effective at capturing females at high and l ow population levels. In the first experiment the best performance was show n by the Tephri trap baited with 3FA in combination with water, and in the second the best was also the Tephri trap but with dry treatment. The high n umber of non-targeted insects captured by the first treatment together with servicing difficulties would indicate that the 3FA/dry-baited Tephri trap is the best choice in the area of the study. On the other hand the 3FA capt ured a percentage of mated females equivalent to those obtained with Nu-Lur e. The Trimedlure proved to be an adequate tool to detect the earliest Medf ly males in increasing spring population. The implications and advantages o f using the 3FA female attractants in sterile insect technique programmes a nd mass trapping approaches, are discussed.