Evaluation of cue-lure and methyl eugenol traps with solid lure and insecticide dispensers for fruit fly (Bactrocera spp.) detection, monitoring and control in Tahiti, French Polynesia

Cue-lure (C-L) and methyl eugenol (ME) with solid lure and insecticides dispensers were tested in Tahiti, French Polynesia against populations of Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt), and oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel). For captures of B. tryoni, Tahitian-Steiner traps with FT MC with DDVP wafers, Bactromat CL fipronil fruit fly stations, and SPLAT-MAT-spinosad-CL disks, performed equally as well as standard Tahitian Steiner traps with liquid C-L and malathion. For captures of B. dorsalis, Tahitian-Steiner traps with FT Mallet ME wafers impregnated with dimethyl dichloro-vinyl phosphate (DDVP), FT Mallet MC (ME, raspberry ketone, and benzyl acetate) wafers with DDVP and SPLAT-MAT-spinosad-ME disks performed equally as well as standard Tahitian Steiner traps with liquid ME and malathion. FT Mallet MC captures.were equivalent to those containing separate lures. From a worker safety and convenience standpoint, solid lure dispensers with insecticide are more convenient and safer to handle than standard liquid insecticide formulations used for detection and male annihilation programs in Hawaii, Pacific Island Nations, and the U.S. mainland. Furthermore, the FT Mallet MC wafer might be used in a single trap in place of two separate traps for detection of both ME and C-L responding fruit flies.