An attract-and-kill system to control spp. in Australian stone fruit orchards

During two growing seasons, the use of an attract-and-kill system for control of Carpophilus spp. (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) and the effective range or drawing power of the attract-and-kill stations were examined in stone fruit orchards in the Goulburn Valley, northern Victoria, Australia. Three attract-and-kill stations, baited with synthetic aggregation pheromone plus co-attractant, were placed about 50 m apart in the upwind corner of each treated block 5-6 weeks before the fruit began to ripen. Large numbers of Carpophilus spp. were caught in the attract-and-kill stations immediately after placement. By the time fruit had ripened, the number of Carpophilus spp. caught had decreased greatly. Fruit damage caused by Carpophilus spp. in treated blocks, especially in 2000-2001 season, was almost zero (0.1% and 0.6%) in trees and on the ground, respectively, whereas the damage levels in control blocks were 5.2% and 19.9% in trees and on the ground, respectively. This study indicates that excellent protection of ripening stone fruit may be achieved by using attract-and kill-stations.