Exploration of attractants with different trap designs and lure mixtures for effective capturing of Bactrocera spp (Diptera: Tephritidae) in mango orchards of Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the efficacy of various attractants, trap designs, and lure mixtures for capturing Bactrocera spp in mango orchards of Saharanpur district, Uttar Pradesh, India. Bactrocera spp, commonly known as fruit flies, pose a significant threat to mango cultivation by causing extensive damage to fruit quality and yield. This research, conducted in different mango orchards of various places viz; Behat, Nakur and Sadholi Qadeem of Saharanpur district, examined the impact of different lure mixtures in baited traps on the attraction of fruit flies, particularly Bactrocera zonata and Bactrocera dorsalis, to develop efficient and sustainable strategies for fruit fly management in these regions. The research into the fusion of various traps and lures to attract fruit flies of genus Bactrocera has revealed an intriguing interplay of attractants. The findings demonstrated that lure mixtures in baited traps influence the attraction of fruit flies in a species-specific manner, with different species exhibiting varying levels of attraction to different lure mixtures. Notably, the most attractive lure mixture varied among the species, underscoring the need for species-specific considerations in integrated pest management programs. A total of 3780 and 2129 flies were captured for a research period of 17 weeks during the year 2023 for B. dorsalis and B. zonata respectively. It was observed that most of the fruit flies were attracted towards the cylindrical traps possessed with methyl eugenol lure followed by a mixture of methyl eugenol and cue lure. These results shed light on the potential for optimizing bait mixtures based on the relative abundance and economic impact of different fruit fly species, offering valuable insights for local fruit fly pest control programs. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of future research aimed at refining lure mixtures to match specific kairomone emissions and maximize attractiveness across all targeted species.