Field Experiments | The Effective and Correct Solution to Capturing the Mediterranean Fruit Fly

Ein Zivan, Golan Heights | Nectarine – 338

עין זיוון, רמת הגולן | נקטרינה – 338

Fruits infected by Mediterranean fruit fly in different treatments over time. The line represents the fruits infected and the columns represent the monitoring of the Mediterranean fruit fly in Shtainer and Tephri traps in different treatment, flies per trap per day (FTD).

Observation Description

The observation was conducted at a Nectarine lot of the type Arctic Mist 338, in Kibbutz Ein Zivan, Golan Heights, in an area of 20 Dunam (roughly 5 Acres). The trees were planted in 2005. The traps were deployed on 9.5.16, and selective fruit-picking began on 25.9.16 for a week. 2 treatments were implemented in the lot: Luretect – 5 devices per 1 Dunam and a control lot with no treatment at all. 2 treatments conducted twice – a total of 4 observation lots.


Discussion and conclusions:

  1. With the ripening of the fruit and close to the fruit-picking, infections began to appear in the control lots without devices. In one lot the infections stood at 2% and in the second at 5%, while at the lots treated with Luretect there were no infections at all.
  2. There is a clear correlation between the rise in fly population to fruits infected.
  3. An amount of 5 devices per 1 Dunam exterminated the population of Mediterranean fruit flies effectively in this specie.

Daphna, Hoola Valley | Tangerine – “Or”

דפנה, עמק החולה | מנדרינה – אור

Fruits infected by Mediterranean fruit fly in different treatments over time. The line represents the fruits infected and the columns represent the monitoring of the Mediterranean fruit fly in Shtainer traps in different treatment, flies per trap per day (FTD).

Observation Description

The observation was conducted in Kibbutz Daphna, in an orchard of tangerines of the type “Or”, over an area of 20 Dunam (roughly 5 Acres). Luretect devices in differentiating amounts were deployed in the observation area, in comparison to the competitor in an amount of 12 devices per 1 Dunam. the fruit-picking was conducted on 1.3.15 – 1.4.15.

Discussion and conclusions:

  1. Luretect devices were found effective in exterminating Mediterranean fruit flies in “Or” type. In the competing trap treatment of 12 devices per 1 Dunam, a fruit infection appeared which has gotten worse over time, while an amount of 7.5 devices per 1 Dunam exterminated the pest almost completely. 5 devices per 1 Dunam were found effective, but inferior to the larger amount.
  2. The percentage of infected fruits was low up to the fruit-picking and increased to 8.6% after the beginning of the fruit-picking.
  3. The number of flies who got caught in the Shtainer traps varied from 1-5 trapped per day. During the months of January-February the number remained extremely low and increased drastically during the fruit-picking months. This rise in population was apparently a result of weather conditions and/or spraying policy.

Bar’am, Upper Galilee | Apple – Granny Smith

ברעם, מרום הגליל | תפוח – גרני סמית

Fruits infected by Mediterranean fruit fly in different treatments over time. The line represents the fruits infected and the columns represent the monitoring of the Mediterranean fruit fly in Shtainer traps in different treatment, flies per trap per day (FTD).

Observation Description

The observation was conducted at a Granny smith specie of apples in Kibbutz Bar’am, upper galilee, on a lot of 40 Dunam (roughly 10 Acres). The trees were planted in 1991. The traps were deployed on 20.9.15, and the fruit-picking was on 4.10.15. 5 treatments were implemented in the lot: Luretect 2.5, 5, 7.5 devices per 1 Dunam, competitor’s trap – 10 devices per 1 Dunam and one control lot with no treatment at all. After the fruit-picking, 10 trees from each lot were left untouched, to observe the effectiveness.

Discussion and conclusions:

  1. Luretect devices were found effective on capturing the Mediterranean fruit fly. The results of the treatment were similar when using 5 and 7.5 devices per 1 Dunam. using 2.5 devices of Luretect, as well as the competitor’s trap was inferior to the larger amounts.
  2. Near the end of the experiment, as there were few remaining fruits on the trees, the effectiveness of Luretect – 5 devices per 1 Dunam was significantly superior to the other treatments. This result can be seen on 11.11 and 16.11.
  3. The number of flies captured in Shtainer traps rose gradually after the end of the fruit-picking, apparently due to the spraying policy early on.
  4. Fruit infections began after the end of the fruit-picking.

Ma’agan, Jordan Valley | Mango – Shelly

מעגן, עמק הירדן | מנגו – שלי

Fruits infected by Mediterranean fruit fly in different treatments over time. The line represents the fruits infected and the columns represent the monitoring of the Mediterranean fruit fly in Shtainer traps in different treatment, flies per trap per day (FTD).

Observation description

The observation was conducted at a mango of the type “shelly” lot in Kibbutz Ma’agan, Jordan Valley, in an area of 30 Dunam (roughly 7.3 Acres). The lot was planted in 1983. The traps were deployed on 20.4.15 and selective fruit-picking began on 3.8.15 for two weeks. 5 treatments were implemented in the lot: Luretect – 2.5 / 5 / 7.5 devices per 1 Dunam, a competitor’s trap – 10 devices per 1 Dunam and one control lot with no treatment at all. 5 observation lots in total.

Discussion and conclusions:

  1. Fruit infections began after the fruit-picking in the competitor’s 10 devices per 1 Dunam lot and on the Luretect 2.5 devices per 1 Dunam. those two lots were at a 5% infection level, while the control lot stood at 15% fruit infection. Luretect 5, 7.5 devices per 1 Dunam treatments were stable, with negligible infections.
  2. On the lot with competitor’s devices – 10 per 1 Dunam – fruit infections were 3 times more than Luretect – 2.5 devices per 1 Dunam (7% vs. 2%). Later on, the infection levels were the same between the lots.
  3. The flies’ population in the different lots was at a peak from the beginning until the middle of July. It is clear that there is no correlation between the flies’ population and the fruit infections, and it’s safe to assume that in this case the fruit infections rise because of the fruit’s susceptibility. Even when the population was extremely low (0.2-5 flies per day) the fruit infections level was high (up to 10% infections).
  4. Luretect – 5 devices per 1 Dunam has exterminated the flies’ population effectively.