Evaluation of oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel) [Diptera: Tephritidae] response to methyl eugenol using lynfield traps on mango trees

The Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a highly invasive insect pest ravaging agricultural fruit crops in Nigeria. Because of its destructive nature, it has caused significant direct fruit loss in addition to indirect losses due to quarantine restriction on potentially infested fruits. Presently, no control measure is applied by the majority of the small holder farmers in Nigeria. The attraction of sexually mature male Bactrocera dorsalis to methyl eugenol (ME) have been demonstrated in field trapping studies using Lynfield trap. Methyl eugenol in plug formulation was evaluated for mass trapping of B. dorsalis. Lynfield traps baited with the lures were used in mango orchards in selected locations in Ikwuano Local Government Area Abia state, Nigeria during the mango growing season. The traps were hung at a height of 2 m above the ground within the canopy layer. All traps were inspected for captured fruit flies at weekly interval. Methyl eugenol was effective in attraction of males of B. dorsalis lowering the infestation level of B. dorsalis. The mean number of B. dorsalis trapped in different locations in Ikwuano L.G.A. Abia State, Nigeria progressively increased throughout the duration of the experiment. The mean population of B. dorsalis trapped per week on mango ranged from 364.22 - 542.75. Use of liquid methyl eugenol was effective in trapping B. dorsalis and it can be incorporated in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes for the control of fruit flies.