Individual shrink wrapping: a technique for fruit fly disinfestation in tropical fruits.
Shetty K. K., Klowden M. J., Jang E. B., Kochan W. J.
Author Affiliation: Department of Plant, Soil and Entomological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843, USA.
HortScience 24 : 317-319
Abstract : The potential of heat-shrinkable polymeric films to kill the immature stages of the tephritid Dacus dorsalis [Bactrocera dorsalis] in papayas [pawpaws] and Drosophila melanogaster in mangoes was examined. First-instar larvae of D. melanogaster failed to develop in mangoes which were wrapped for 72 h or longer and held at 24-25°C. When pawpaws were wrapped for 120 h and held at 27°C, all eggs and larvae of B. dorsalis were killed. Eggs and 1st-instar larvae survived when the wrap was present for 48 h, but survival of larvae declined after 96 h. Larvae of both species began to crawl to the surface within 30 min of wrapping, became immobile and died if the wrap was not removed.