Spatio-temporal population trend of the Mediterranean fruit fly in mixed fruit orchards in Central Greece

Abstract

The Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) is an extremely polyphagous, major pest of the fruit producing industry worldwide. Monitoring the population dynamics and phenology is considered of outmost importance for designing and implementing sound management approaches. The aim of this study was to investigate the spatial and temporal dynamics of the medfly populations during 2008 and 2009 in the coastal areas of Pelion, Magnesia, Greece, that is characterized of mixed fruit orchards and rather mild climatic conditions. Two different traps have been compared: female targeted traps (either Tephri or McPhail-type traps) baited with ammonium acetate, trimethylamine and putrescine and male targeted ones (Jackson baited with trimedlure). Traps were placed in farms that were under biological and conventional management, located at different altitudes and landscape morphology (coastal and semi-mountainous areas). The main crops included citrus, apples, peaches, plums, pears, figs, quinces and apricots. In addition to adult trapping, fruit samples were collected from all potential hosts to estimate infestation rates during both seasons. The first adult captures were recorded in May in both years of the study in McPhail traps. Peak of adult captures were recorded in September and August (first in coastal and 15 days later in upland sites) in 2008 and 2009, respectively, while no adults were captured during January and February in 2009. The highest fruit infestation rates were recorded in 2008 in bitter oranges and pears and in 2009 in bitter oranges, two of the most abundant medfly hosts in the area. The results provide information on the seasonal population trend of medfly populations and can support the set-up of IPM systems in areas with different hosts throughout the crop growing season.