Improving the Lifetime Efficiency of Trimedlure-Dispensing System in Trapping the Fruit Fly Ceratitis capitata Using Polyethylene Matrix

Author(s):  
Mohamed H Bayoumy ◽  
Mostafa M El-Metwally ◽  
Refaat A El-Adly ◽  
Tamsin M O Majerus

Abstract Detection of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), is highly reliant on traps loaded with trimedlure (TML), a male-specific attractant. The successful application of attractants requires that constituents are placed in a suitable dispensing system to reduce volatilization and increase the effective field longevity of the attractant. A series of trials were conducted in different fruit orchards to test 1) the efficiency of a polyethylene-matrix plug in regulating the emission rate of TML 2) and the lifetime attractiveness of the plug compared to the cotton wick dispenser. Cotton dispensers containing the recommended dose of TML (0.75 cm3) and with a double dose (1.5 cm3) remained active for 6 and 8 wk, respectively. The increase in TML dose from 0.75 cm3 to 1.5 cm3 led to an increase in the longevity of the cotton dispenser, but there was no significant difference between the doses in biological activity. In all trials, TML-polyethylene matrix dispensers were more efficient under field conditions as they attracted more males for up to 12 wk and prolonged the release of TML more than the cotton wick dispensers. The TML-loaded polyethylene matrix dispensers might be useful in 1) minimizing the losses of the liquid TML from cotton wicks, 2) avoiding the damage that occurs when using other dispensers, 3) prolonging the TML lifetime in the field through regulating its release rates, 4) potentially minimizing the adverse effect of high temperatures on release rate, and, finally, 5) minimizing the costs of using large amounts of expensive TML solutions.

BMC Genetics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (S2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pasquale Primo ◽  
Angela Meccariello ◽  
Maria Grazia Inghilterra ◽  
Andrea Gravina ◽  
Giuseppe Del Corsano ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Females of the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Medfly) are major agricultural pests, as they lay eggs into the fruit crops of hundreds of plant species. In Medfly, female sex determination is based on the activation of Cctransformer (Cctra). A maternal contribution of Cctra is required to activate Cctra itself in the XX embryos and to start and epigenetically maintain a Cctra positive feedback loop, by female-specific alternative splicing, leading to female development. In XY embryos, the male determining Maleness-on-the-Y gene (MoY) blocks this activation and Cctra produces male-specific transcripts encoding truncated CcTRA isoforms and male differentiation occurs. Results With the aim of inducing frameshift mutations in the first coding exon to disrupt both female-specific and shorter male-specific CcTRA open reading frames (ORF), we injected Cas9 ribonucleoproteins (Cas9 and single guide RNA, sgRNA) in embryos. As this approach leads to mostly monoallelic mutations, masculinization was expected only in G1 XX individuals carrying biallelic mutations, following crosses of G0 injected individuals. Surprisingly, these injections into XX-only embryos led to G0 adults that included not only XX females but also 50% of reverted fertile XX males. The G0 XX males expressed male-specific Cctra transcripts, suggesting full masculinization. Interestingly, out of six G0 XX males, four displayed the Cctra wild type sequence. This finding suggests that masculinization by Cas9-sgRNA injections was independent from its mutagenic activity. In line with this observation, embryonic targeting of Cctra in XX embryos by a dead Cas9 (enzymatically inactive, dCas9) also favoured a male-specific splicing of Cctra, in both embryos and adults. Conclusions Our data suggest that the establishment of Cctra female-specific autoregulation during the early embryogenesis has been repressed in XX embryos by the transient binding of the Cas9-sgRNA on the first exon of the Cctra gene. This hypothesis is supported by the observation that the shift of Cctra splicing from female to male mode is induced also by dCas9. Collectively, the present findings corroborate the idea that a transient embryonic inactivation of Cctra is sufficient for male sex determination.


Author(s):  
Adalton Raga ◽  
Fernando Berton Baldo ◽  
Sara Braga E Silva ◽  
Larissa Ketlin da Silva Ferreira ◽  
Leonardo Tambones Galdino ◽  
...  

Toxic bait is an alternative to manage fruit flies (Tephritidae) in orchards and in wide-area programmes. The mortality caused by different dilutions of spinosad baits on adults of Ceratitis capitata (Wied.) and Anastrepha grandis (Macquart) (Tephritidae) were compared with a hydrolysed protein (BioAnastrepha) and water in laboratory. Females and males of C. capitata and A. grandis were exposed to Success® 0.02CB (GF-120 NF Naturalyte fruit-fly, 0.02% spinosad) diluted in distilled water (v/v) at 1:1.5; 1:4.5; 1:9.0 and 1:18.0. Spinosad dilutions at 1: 1.5 and 1: 4.5 showed similar effects and provided 100% adult mortality 24 hours after exposure to the baits. Anastrepha grandis was more susceptible to spinosad baits than C. capitata. Females of C. capitata were less susceptible to spinosad diluted at 1: 1.5, 1: 4.5 and 1: 90, than C. capitata males and both sexes of A. grandis. The values of lethal times (LT50) varied for the different dilutions of spinosad for both fruit-fly species; however, with different patterns for each species. The LT50 values of the two highest concentrations (1: 1.5, 1: 4.5) of spinosad bait were similar for fruit flies of both sexes of each species, but a significant difference was observed between species, with higher LT50 values for C. capitata. In general, the cumulative mortalities of spinosad baits increased at 240, 360, 480 minutes and 24 hours after exposure. BioAnastrepha was shown to be toxic to both species, especially for A. grandis, killing 82% of females and 72% of males at 24 hours after exposure. Spinosad bait may be used in different dilutions to manage C. capitata and A. grandis, with similar toxicity for the two highest spinosad concentrations.


1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-125
Author(s):  
Albert B. DeMilo ◽  
Roy T. Cunningham ◽  
Terrence P. McGovern

The attraction of male Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) to tert-pentyl 4(and 5)-chloro-trans-2-methylcyclohexanecarboxylate (or pentamedlure) was compared to its attraction to trimedlure to establish the suitability of pentamedlure as a possible alternate for trimedlure in applications that use a cotton dental-roll wick dispenser. Results from field tests with released sterile C. capitata showed that pentamedlure, applied to cotton dental roll wicks, was not only comparable to trimedlure in attractiveness but was more persistent. Batch to batch variations in isomer distribution of pentamedlure appeared to have little effect on attraction. Dose-response data showed that pentamedlure, applied at 0.02 and 0.16 ml/wick, initially caught more flies than trimedlure at comparable doses. Moreover, initial catches for pentamedlure for most dosages tested exceeded, but not significantly, initial catches for trimedlure despite a much higher load (2 ml/wick). Trimedlure initial catches within a natural population of wild C. capitata were significantly higher than pentamedlure catches at a comparable dosage (0.2 ml lure/wick). However, pentamedlure-treated wicks were 2 to 3 times more persistent than wicks treated with trimedlure.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Hasyim ◽  
Muryati Muryati ◽  
W.J. De Kogel

Fruit fly (Bactrocera tau) is the most destructive pest on some fruits in Indonesia. Monitoring of the pest population is essential as one of the procedures in the IPM concept. The study aimed to investigate the seasonal fluctuation of adult males of B. tau and their damage on passion fruits in relation to abiotic factors. The research was done by a survey method on three plots of passion fruit orchards in Alahan Panjang, West Sumatra, Indonesia from March to December 2005. In plot 1 the farmer practiced sanitation by removing damaged fruits and weeds from the orchard. In the plots 2 and 3 no sanitation was practiced. Each plot was 1 ha in size. The parameters observed were density of adult male B. tau and climatic factors (rainfall per day, number of rainy days, and average day temperature). Empty mineral water bottle traps were used to catch adult males of B. tau. Each plot had 16 traps set up with cue lure as fruit fly attractant. Each trap was baited with 3 ml cue lure on a cotton wick (1 cm diameter). The cotton wick was rebaited at 2-week intervals. The traps were placed on host plants about 1.5 m above the ground. Trapped flies were collected every two weeks and counted. The data were analyzed by correlation analysis. The results revealed that the number of male B. tau<br />in three orchards showed a similar fluctuation during the study period with a major peak in July. The lower numbers of flies captured in plot 1 (with sanitation) compared to the two other plots (without sanitation) were consistent with a lower percentage of damaged fruits in the plot 1 compared to the other two. The percentage of damaged fruits gradually decreased over time to about 20% in plot 1 which is lower than that in the other two<br />plots (30-40%). The number of fruit flies captured with cue lure baited traps correlated positively with all three abiotic factors studied. The seasonal fluctuation of the fruit fly population and the damage to the fruits are necessary to be studied as a procedure<br />in IPM for controlling B. tau.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Hasyim ◽  
Muryati Muryati ◽  
W.J. De Kogel

Fruit fly (Bactrocera tau) is the most destructive pest on some fruits in Indonesia. Monitoring of the pest population is essential as one of the procedures in the IPM concept. The study aimed to investigate the seasonal fluctuation of adult males of B. tau and their damage on passion fruits in relation to abiotic factors. The research was done by a survey method on three plots of passion fruit orchards in Alahan Panjang, West Sumatra, Indonesia from March to December 2005. In plot 1 the farmer practiced sanitation by removing damaged fruits and weeds from the orchard. In the plots 2 and 3 no sanitation was practiced. Each plot was 1 ha in size. The parameters observed were density of adult male B. tau and climatic factors (rainfall per day, number of rainy days, and average day temperature). Empty mineral water bottle traps were used to catch adult males of B. tau. Each plot had 16 traps set up with cue lure as fruit fly attractant. Each trap was baited with 3 ml cue lure on a cotton wick (1 cm diameter). The cotton wick was rebaited at 2-week intervals. The traps were placed on host plants about 1.5 m above the ground. Trapped flies were collected every two weeks and counted. The data were analyzed by correlation analysis. The results revealed that the number of male B. tau<br />in three orchards showed a similar fluctuation during the study period with a major peak in July. The lower numbers of flies captured in plot 1 (with sanitation) compared to the two other plots (without sanitation) were consistent with a lower percentage of damaged fruits in the plot 1 compared to the other two. The percentage of damaged fruits gradually decreased over time to about 20% in plot 1 which is lower than that in the other two<br />plots (30-40%). The number of fruit flies captured with cue lure baited traps correlated positively with all three abiotic factors studied. The seasonal fluctuation of the fruit fly population and the damage to the fruits are necessary to be studied as a procedure<br />in IPM for controlling B. tau.


Author(s):  
S. O. Atanu ◽  
B. C. Echezona ◽  
K. I. Ugwuoke

Background and Objective: Citrus is one of the most important and among the top ten widely cultivated fruits in Nigeria. It is produced more in the Guinea and Sudan Savanna zones of the country with Benue State having the highest annual production. In the South of Savanna region of Africa, particularly in Nigeria; despite the economic, nutritional and health benefits of citrus, limited research work has been carried out on the identification and control of fruit flies of economic importance to the crop. The objectives of this study are to identify and determine the abundance of the fruit fly species responsible for fruit drop of citrus in Benue State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Fruit fly identification was done through fruit culture experiment carried out in the College of Agronomy Teaching and Research Farm, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi in October 2014 and October 2015.The experiment was a 2 x 3 factorial in a completely randomized design with four replications. The two factors were Zones (Zone A and B) and Varieties (Ibadan Sweet, Valencia and Washington Navel). Ten naturally infested orange fruits from four randomly selected citrus trees of each variety in each zone were weighed and placed in each plastic rearing box with dimension 39 x 27 x 26 cm containing sterilized moist soil securely covered with 1 mm mesh net for pupation and adult insect emergence. Emerged adults were killed using Mobil insecticide (Cyphenothrin), counted, sexed and stored in specimen bottles with 70% alcohol for preservation and later identification. Results: Fruit fly species identified from citrus fruit culture were: Bactrocera invadens (Drew), Ceratitis capitata (Weid) and Dacus bivittata (Biggot).  Bactrocera invadens were the most abundant species and accounted for 63.70% in Washington navel and 63.10% in Valencia in 2014 and 2015 respectively. The varieties showed no significant differences (p>0.05) on the abundance of Ceratitis capitata and Dacus bivittata in 2014. In 2015 however, Ibadan Sweet variety showed significant difference (p < 0.05) on the abundance of Ceratitis capitata (28.30%) when compared with other varieties (15.8%) each. Conclusion: Fruit fly species responsible for citrus fruit drop in Benue State were Bactrocera invadens (Drew), Ceratitis capitata (Weid) and Dacus bivittata (Biggot) with Bactrocera invadens (Drew) recorded as the most abundant species.


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Atef S. Abdel-Razek ◽  
Mahfouz M. M. Abd-Elgawad

Abstract Background Cultivation of citrus (Sapindales: Rutaceae) crops is continuously expanding in Egypt given the favorable ingredients of citriculture. Notwithstanding the Egyptian rank as the world's largest orange exporter, the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is one of the major pests that considerably reduces the quality of citrus crops. Contrary to hazardous organophosphate insecticides that are commonly used to control the Medfly, biologically-based C. capitata control tactics were tried herein. The effect of spinosad as a bacterial fermentation product and the nematode Steinernema riobrave as biological insecticides applied singly or in combination on laboratory and field strains of Medfly were investigated. Results A significant difference in LC50 values was observed between laboratory strain (4.78 PPM) and field strain (8.12 PPM) of C. capitata larvae exposed to spinosad. A 1.7 fold decrease in susceptibility of field strain was recorded after treatment with spinosad. In a field experiment, a reduction in Medfly population by 80, 37, and 92% for spinosad, S. riobrave, and spinosad + nematode treatments was recorded, respectively. Conclusions Utilization of spinosad-S. riobrave combination in citrus fields, as a novel alternative for unhealthy chemical insecticides to control C. capitata in Egypt can be suggested. Use of this combination should be incorporated into a holistic management package that can be economically feasible and environmentally sustainable for Egyptian agriculture.


1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 543-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Avery ◽  
D. L. Chambers ◽  
R. T. Cunningham ◽  
B. A. Leonhardt

Ceralure, a new potent and persistent attractant for the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), was evaluated in a new technique which serves as an alternative to aerial application of male annihilation bait-sprays for eradication. Residual ceralure and trimedlure contents, release rates, and medfly captures using panels coated with ceralure and trimedlure in stickem were evaluated for effective attraction of male medflies. The lure/stickem coated panels may be more effective than the Jackson trap baited with the “standard” trimedlure plug dispenser.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document