Bait sprays and male annihilation for the control of fruit flies infesting citrus trees in Benin

Tephritid fruit flies are among the most econmically important group of fruit flies attacking horticultural crops. The extent of damage ranges between 30% and 100% on cucurbit crops and 40%-75% on mango and other fruit crops namely mango and citrus. In Benin, the horticultural sector is permanently under threat of fruit flies with limited knowledge on population dynamics and management strategies on citrus. A diverse group of commnly recommended IPM components to controling fruit flies infesting fruit vegetables and fruit tree crops including baiting techniques, male annihilation technique, biological control, orchard sanitation, mechanical fruit protection, early harvesting and post-harvest treatment. Present study focused on testing bait sprays (GF-120 applied in localised spots of tree canopy) and male annihilation (coconut husk impregnated with 1 part Methyl eugeno and 4 parts Malathion. Eight orchards have been selected in Atlantique Department, South Benin, and according to well-defined criteria. Traps containing Methyl eugenol, PTA, Nulure, Benin brewer's yeast, and Torula yeast were also placed in the 8 citrus orchards to monitor the fruit flies population dynamics.