Revisiting within-tree trap positioning for apple maggot fly (Dipt., Tephritidae) behavioural control

• Published in: Journal of applied entomology (1986) 2004-04, Vol.128 (3), p.195-199
• Main Authors: Rull, J, Prokopy, R.J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Apple maggot; apples; behavioral control; Biological and medical sciences; color; fruits (plant anatomy); Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; insect control; Malus domestica; orchards; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Protozoa. Invertebrates; Records, symptoms, damages, economic importance, population surveys; red sphere traps; Rhagoletis pomonella; spatial distribution; sticky traps; temporal variation; Tephritidae; Trap position; trapping; trapping efficiency; visual competition
• ISSN: 0931-2048; 1439-0418
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0418.2004.00835.x

:  Aiming to minimize visual competition between large red apples and red sphere traps from influencing effectiveness of traps for apple maggot fly (AMF) control, we compared AMF captures by red spheres in standard recommended position (no fruit within 15 cm), red spheres in similar position but with all fruit removed within a 30‐cm radius (fruitless), red spheres with additional visual competition provided by three plastic red spheres hung 15 cm from sphere traps, and yellow panels. Traps were coated with adhesive, baited with synthetic fruit odour, and hung on trees of an apple cultivar bearing red fruit (Akeene) and trees of an apple cultivar bearing pale yellow fruit (Golden Delicious). On Akeene trees, red spheres in recommended position and fruitless red spheres caught more AMF than red spheres surrounded by plastic spheres and than yellow panels. Towards harvest, effectiveness of red spheres in recommended position decreased as reflectance of the surface of Akeene apples approached that of red spheres. By contrast, effectiveness of fruitless spheres increased over time. On Golden Delicious trees, fruitless spheres were the most effective, followed by spheres surrounded by uncoated plastic spheres and red spheres in recommended position. We conclude that removing all fruit within a 30‐cm radius around red sphere traps results in similar or increased trap effectiveness relative to red spheres in recommended position.