Comparison of the efficacy of different food attractants and their concentration for melon fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The relative attractiveness of six commercially available protein hydrolysates and the influence of their concentration were evaluated in field cages by a release-capture method of lab-reared melon fly adults, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett). Buminal, Corn Steepwater, Hym-Lure, Pinnacle, Nulure, and SolBait were tested for both sexes of the melon fly. The tested products exhibited clear differences in attractiveness. SolBait was the most effective protein hydrolysate. Pinnacle and Corn Steepwater also gave promising results. A general tendency for an increase in effectiveness with increasing concentration within the range 0.5 to 10% was shown. This study will allow pest control practitioners to choose more effective attractants for use in bait sprays to control the melon fly thus reducing the intensive use of insecticides currently practiced in Reunion island and enabling the development of Integrated pest management (IPM) methods for cucurbit crops.