Evaluating the Efficacy of the Systems Approach Components for Western Cherry Fruit Fly (Rhagoletis Indifferens)
Fruit and Vegetable Insect Research
2012 Annual Report
1a.Objectives (from AD-416):
Evaluate the components of the systems approach for sweet cherry, including (1) the use of larval distribution data, (2) chemical controls, and (3) fruit inspection.
1b.Approach (from AD-416):
The infestation patterns of western cherry fruit fly larvae within orchards will be determined bt sampling fruit and rearing larvae out. Effects of insecticides on larval infestations will be determined by applying insecticides at specified intervals and collecting fruit and examining them for larvae. Brown sugar and hot water detection methods for larvae will be compared by determining the numbers of larvae collected versus total numbers present, and improved if needed by altering the crusinging mechanisms.
In 2011, detection of cherry fruit fly larvae from crushed cherries using flotation in brown sugar and salt solutions were compared. Cherries were crushed and brown sugar or salt solution was poured over cherries. The solutions were inspected for larvae that were liberated from the fruit. Crushed cherries were preserved in alcohol so that they could be examined under a microscope for larvae that were missed during the initial inspections. The cherries were examined for larvae throughout fall, winter, and spring 2011-2012. Percentages of larvae that were detected were calculated using numbers of larvae initially recovered plus those found in cherries through examinations under the microscope. It was found that the salt method was slightly more effective at detecting larvae than the sugar method, but complete results are forthcoming. Sweet cherries in three commercial or experimental cherry orchards in Oregon were sampled to document the distributions of infestations. Two hundred cherries were removed from trees along the periphery of orchards as well as trees in the middle and centers of orchards. In one of the orchards, infestations were found along the periphery trees, implying that infestations occurred as a result of flies from surrounding non-orchard trees. The distributions of larval infestations in three orchards are being determined in July 2012. Studies were conducted on effects of pre-harvest insecticide bait treatments on larval infestations. Cherry trees at the USDA experimental research farm were sprayed with sugar baits containing the insecticide Actara and with the protein-sugar bait GF-120 over the 5-week season and infestations in the cherries evaluated. Actara reduced infestations significantly more than GF-120. In addition, the residual activities of Actara and GF-120 were determined. It was found that Actara in sugar bait had a longer residual activity, possibly explaining its greater effectiveness in controlling flies. A similar sugar bait test conducted in June 2012. The work reported here addresses objectives 5 and 6 in the parent project plan.