Management of fruit flies through mass trapping in guava at Dharwad

Studies on the management of fruit flies through mass trapping were conducted in five farmers' commercial orchards of guava in and around Dharwad (Kamataka, South India) during 2004 and 2005. Three orchards were installed with methyl eugenol traps at the density of 4, 8 and 16 traps per acre, one orchard with the traps prepared as per the recommended package of practices (POP traps) and one orchard without any traps which served as control. Significantly highest mean number of 353.69 and 276.36 fruit flies/trap/fortnight were trapped in the orchards with 16 traps per acre during 2004 and 2005, respectively, followed by the orchard with 8 traps per acre. Consequently the per cent infested fruits and the level of larval incidence declined to zero level in these treatments as against 42.33 to 64.29 per cent infested fruits and 1.43 to 3.75 larvae per fruit in control orchard in both the years. The orchards with 4 traps per acre were best only next to the control orchard. However in the orchard with POP traps, the trap catches were significantly low (46.24 fruit flies/trap) and the per cent infestation and the level of incidence was at par with the control orchard. It is concluded that mass trapping by installing 8 or16 methyl eugenol  traps/acre is the most effective measure for management of fruit flies in guava.