New in-field treatment solutions to control Fruit Fly (2)
This project focused on two previously untested methods for managing and monitoring fruit fly in vegetable crops; Netting and repellents, and attraction with UV light. Floating row covers were both a visual and physical barrier. Netting that was draped over crops and secured with soil effectively excluded fruit flies from capsicum and chilli crops. These covers improved yield and quality of capsicum fruit. Netting increased marketable yield by 10 to 80%, while the number of fruit scored as grade 1 increased by 24 to 55%. Laboratory and field cage trials examined the attractiveness of white, green and UV light. Green light was attractive during the day, while white light was repellent. UV light was most attractive at dusk, when flies are mating, and captured equal numbers of male and female flies in field cage tests.