DFNet

April 24, 2024 | Agronomy |

Hainan University, China, addressed the challenges posed by the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), to global fruit production, focusing on minimizing environmental risks and pesticide resistance. The research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of four push–pull control strategies in managing B. dorsalis outbreaks in a Nephelium lappaceum (rambutan) orchard. These strategies included using low-concentration abamectin, deploying repellents via drone or manual spraying, and employing methyl eugenol (ME) or food bait as attractants. The study found that integrating low-concentration abamectin into the push–pull system, using ME as an attractant instead of food lures, and manually applying abamectin and attractants effectively reduced B. dorsalis populations and minimized fruit damage. Although increasing the diversity of repellents and attractants improved the system's long-term effectiveness, it did not significantly further reduce the fruit fly population or damage compared to using a single repellent or attractant. The findings suggest that push–pull strategies are a viable method for managing B. dorsalis outbreaks, with the potential to reduce environmental risks and pesticide resistance. However, the study emphasizes the importance of tailoring push–pull strategies to specific orchard conditions to maximize their effectiveness.

Read more