Population fluctuations of melon fly, Dacus ciliatus Loew (Dip.: Tephritidae) using Dome traps

عنوان دوره: دومین کنگره بین المللی حشره شناسی ایران

Melon fly is one of the main pests of a wide range of Cucurbitaceae in Africa and Asia. The farmers use various pesticides and spray farms and greenhouse several times against this pest in Iran. Due to the increasing damage of this pest and avoiding application of chemical pesticides, we need particular attention to the use of alternative methods to control them. A field experiment was implemented in Mohammadshahr (South Khorasan) during 2009 to evaluate attractant lures during 21 week between July and December. Nine Dome traps were placed about 80 cm above ground in melon farm. Femilure compound (Russell IPM, U.K.) as attractant and Amonia tablet for killing captured flies were used inside traps. Weekly captures per trap was recorded. A total of 218 flies (sex ratio 1 male: 2 female) were captured. Captured flies were identified as D. ciliatus by Insects Taxonomy Research Department of Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection (IRIPP). Weekly captures per trap, which were nil in Aug, increased until the middle of October and decreased during November & December. Considering the mean captures per trap calculated on a monthly basis, the population of D. ciliatus reached a maximum in the beginning of October. Both sexes seemed to emerge simultaneously in the middle of summer and can be found until the temperature drops in the late of December. The female excess may reflect a shorter life span of the males or a greater mobility of females. This is the first record the successful trapping of D. ciliatus. The results showed that trapping could be used as a monitoring and decision tool to improve the timing of insecticide application and also control of melon fly, D. ciliatus, basis integrated pest management.

Dacus ciliatus؛ Femilure؛ capture