Attractive solutions for monitoring Zaprionus indianus (Diptera: Drosophilidae) populations in fig orchard

Abstract

The fig fly (Zaprionus indianus) is one of the major fig pests in Brazil, being its monitoring important for reducing the use of chemical insecticides. This study aimed at evaluating the efficiency of attractive food for Z. indianus, in fig orchard. The experiment was installed in a domestic fig (‘Roxo de Valinhos’ cultivar) orchard, using five treatments (fig juice at 50%, sugarcane molasses at 7% and grape juice at 30%, 40% and 50%), with five replicates, in a completely randomized design. A total of 3,284 adult fig flies (1,983 female and 1,301 male) were captured, representing 42% of the total insects and 62% of the drosophilids captured. The proportion of males and females was similar for all attractive solutions. Fig juice at 50% was effective in capturing the fig fly, being recommended for its monitoring in domestic orchards. Sugarcane molasses at 7%, despite its effectiveness, did not present regularity in fig fly capturing, being only indicated for periods of less than 28 days. At the concentrations tested, the grape juice was not effective.