Eradication of an exotic fruit fly from Mauritius.
Seewooruthun S. I., Shradanand Permalloo, Bhubaneswar Gungah, Soonnoo A. R., Malini Alleck
Author Affiliation: Entomology Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Cooperatives, Reduit, Mauritius.
: 389-394
Abstract : An eradication programme for Bactrocera dorsalis infesting various tree crops was conducted in July 1996-April 1998, in the southern region of Mauritius, using bait application (BAT), male annihilation (MAT) and sterile insect techniques, either singly or in combination. The treatments were as follows: (i) BAT, using 2% protein hydrolysate and 0.7% malathion 57 EC applied every 7-10 days; (ii) MAT, using plywood blocks (50×12 mm) with 6 g methyl eugenol and 1 g malathion 57 EC; (iii) cover spray of trees with ripening fruits; (iv) soil drenching under trees with ripening and fallen fruits; and (v) fruit clean-up and disposal. BAT was applied as 40 ml spots at the rate of 200 spots/ha at 7-10-day intervals. MAT blocks were nailed onto tree trunks at 10-14/ha in buildup areas and regions with wild vegetation, and were renewed every 2.5-3 months. Locally developed methyl eugenol baited traps were used for the detection of adult flies. A total of 144 adult flies were caught from 22 villages in the eradication area, majority of which were trapped between 18 July and 22 September 1996. The maximum number caught from one locality in a single day was 32. B. dorsalis was not collected from any of the 250 traps operated within the 7 other districts within the purview of the area-wide control programme. Fruit and vegetables belonging to over 20 species were sampled for detection from the eradication area. Fruit and vegetables kept for observations were 70?875 and 5042, respectively. Emergence was recorded only from mango and Indian almond (Terminalia catappa). The last emergence was recorded from a sample of Indian almond fruit collected on 22 April 1997.