Enhancement of Some Protein-Based Baits for Attracting Bactrocera zonata (Diptera: Tephritidae) by Adding Ammonium Compounds

Editorial

Authors

1 Department of Economic Entomology and Pesticides, Fac. of Agric., Cairo Univ., Giza, Egypt.

2 Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

The peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) became a serious pest in Egypt; however, it attacking a wide range of fruit species. The purpose of this study was to enhance of Buminal, Agrinal and Amadene (commercially available protein-based baits in Egypt) in attracting B. zonata by using ammonium acetate and di-ammonium phosphate under the field conditions of a mango orchard. McPhail traps were used containing mixtures of protein-bait and ammonium compound (with ratios of 1:1, 2:1 and 1:2, respectively) in comparison with either protein-bait or ammonium compound alone. The obtained results showed that the attracted B. zonata flies to the mixtures between Buminal and ammonium acetate did not differ significantly with Buminal alone; while, all mixtures between the same bait and di-ammonium phosphate were significantly higher than Buminal alone. With respect to Agrinal, when it mixed with ammonium acetate (at a ratio of 1:1) or mixed with di-ammonium phosphate (at all ratios) attracted significantly higher numbers of B. zonata flies in comparison with Agrinal alone. Mixtures containing di-ammonium phosphate (at all ratios) or ammonium acetate (at a ratio of 1:1) mixed with Amadene exhibited significantly higher attractability for B. zonata flies in comparison with Amadene alone. On another hand, all of the tested treatments attracted more females than males. As a conclusion, each of Agrinal or Amadene can be enhanced by mixing any of them with di-ammonium phosphate or ammonium acetate at a ratio of 1:1 which resulting significantly higher attractability of B. zonata especially females; while, Buminal can be enhanced by mixing it with di-ammonium phosphate at the same ratio.

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